Shaunak Deshpande, a Camas High School junior, is helping local educators turn outdoor school grounds into science classrooms.

On Oct. 8, Deshpande and Ken Pitts, youth supervisor for Vancouver Audubon, led a hands-on workshop called “Birds as a Window to Science” for local elementary and middle school teachers at Discovery High School in Camas. The workshop explored how birdwatching can help students build observational skills, collect real-world data and learn about science.

During the workshop, participants stepped outside to practice using binoculars to identify birds. They also received ready-to-use classroom activities aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and ideas for exploring migration and environmental challenges with students. Educational Service District 112 assisted with workshop coordination.

“You don’t have to travel far or have expensive equipment to learn about birds. I want to help teachers give students the opportunity to discover the wildlife right outside their classrooms,” said Deshpande.

Deshpande also assembled birding kits with binoculars and a field guide for local elementary and middle school teachers to borrow for free, helping more students access birding equipment.

“I’m excited to see local teachers bring these birding kits into their classrooms and help students make scientific observations, record their findings and ask new questions,” said Stacy Meyer, science coordinator at ESD 112.

Deshpande also founded Cameraderie, a Vancouver Audubon birding, wildlife, and nature photography group for youth ages 8-18. As a youth volunteer, he has secured business sponsors, hosted fundraisers, maintained Instagram and Facebook pages for the program and led bird walks at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Now, Deshpande is extending those efforts into local classrooms, helping teachers introduce more students to birding and hands-on science.