This past July, mini-grant winner Friends of Oxon Run Park celebrated their local birds with children in the District Columbia’s largest park in Ward 8. They wanted to provide the children in their community with the opportunity to connect with nature. This event was a part of their outdoor learning series.
80 children who live in Washington Highlands were able to observe birds and document information about them. As they excitedly looked up at the sky, others around them in the park did the same and found the beauty of local birds. Friends of Oxon Run hope to normalize bird watching in their community to help them heal and reimagine their futures. Two LYL representatives worked with the children to build and paint birdhouses to take home so they can see birds outside their own home.
The Friends of Oxon Run’s mission is to address the needs of green conservation in Ward 8, to preserve spaces like this park and promote education about the nature that surrounds the communities they serve (see their report at the end of this page). FOR plans on implementing the second phase of this experience in April 2022. We can’t wait to see what more the Friends of Oxon Run have in store!