OuterNet - get Kids collecting Leps Now

[jshuey]

Hey Everyone,


I’d like to post a link to a new Lepidopterists’ Society Program designed to get kids colleting insects at an early age. The idea is to get kids excited about insects, provide them with real equipment, and expose them to the Lepidopterists’ Society and our publications for $20 US. Sadly – because of shipping costs, this offer can be extended only to kids in Canada and the US. We have funding to offer this to about 200 kids annually – and we are hoping to run the program for 5-10 years. While the Society losses about $25 per kid that enrolls, we are hoping to help reverse the general decline of interest in natural history. We think that some of these children will eventually become amateur and professional lepidopterists – and will join our ranks as colleges and friends.


Here is the text I just pulled off our Face Book page:



The Outernet Project connects kids with nature by providing discounted butterfly nets and supplies.


Starting April 10, 2011, children can become members of The Lepidopterists' Society for a discounted price of $20 and get a free Outernet Kit; which includes a butterfly net, mounting board, pins, and other items. To find out what specifically everything that is included in this kit, please go to www.lepsoc.org/mydocuments/outernet_kit_facebook.pdf


Description The Lepidopterists' Society has partnered with Bioquip Products to design this discounted butterfly collecting kit to excite children about butterflies and nature. To participate in the Outernet Project, go to www.lepsoc.org/mydocuments/download.php?f=outernet_application.doc


The Outernet Project Team of The Lepidopterists' Society consists of 2011 President, John Shuey, Outernet Project Manager, Todd Stout, Education Chair, Michelle Dacosta, Membership Chair, Dave Wikle, and Web and Technology Chair, John Snyder. Special thanks to Bioquip Products for their partnership in this project.


Mission As conceived by Robert Michael Pyle and termed ‘The Outernet Project’ by Martha Weiss, this initiative places butterfly nets into the hands of kids to give them the same connection with nature many of us have had.


Special Thanks and Recognition goes to Bryant Mather's enormous contribution to The Lepidopterists' Society making this project possible.

Website www.lepsoc.org/education.php

[wollastoni]

Brilliant idea !

[saturniidave]

The 'Butterfly Huggers' and the P.C. brigade would never allow anything like that here. Encourage kids to kill bugs??? Can't be having that!
Dave

[jshuey]

Interestingly, this idea originated with Bob (Robert) Pyle - co-founder of the Xerces Society. Things are different here in the US, and there is a general recognition that in order to conserve insects - you have to care about them. And the easiest way to get people to care - is to give them nets when they are young.

John

[wollastoni]

You are perfectly right John.

[saturniidave]

I agree John, I just wish things were the same here.
Dave

[mikelock34]

I think that is a great idea too, though I would suggest having designated persons available to answer questions from the kids. I never stayed with the Lep Society when I was kid because each time I asked someone a question, they would blow me off or act as though I were an idiot for asking the question...........

[wingedwishes]

This is a great idea. You are right Mike - Patience and arrogance do not get along in any field.

[jshuey]

Apr 12, 2011 10:16:44 GMT -8 mikelock34 said:

I think that is a great idea too, though I would suggest having designated persons available to answer questions from the kids. I never stayed with the Lep Society when I was kid because each time I asked someone a question, they would blow me off or act as though I were an idiot for asking the question...........

I won’t claim these days are completely gone. But there is a dynamic group of people within the Lep Soc that is trying to reach out to kids, either directly through local collecting groups,,, or more broadly through programs such as 4-H. We want to create the next generation of field collectors – and this is the way.

I urge you to re-consider the benefits of being a member in the Lep Soc. It’s an unusual blend of professionals and amateurs (generally serious amateurs). By and large – they are great group. The professionals are members because they LOVE leps – there are lots of people who work with leps who are not members – these are the ones who tend to be stiffs that just see them as animals. But our membership is really focused on our love of leps, so the meetings are a blend of science and fun. And the publications are structured the same way – newsletter of interesting things submitted by anyone who feels like it, and journal of peer reviewed scientific results (most of which I happen to find interesting as well). Like many groups, our members certainly have our quirks, and if you are a little quiet, it may take a while to forge those friendships. But be like me and just keep plugging away, and you will end up as hooked as I am.

I’ll tell you about the meetings from my own perspective, I work in ecology, restoration and conservation, and go to too many meetings every year. The Lep Soc annual meeting is the only one I really look forward to going to, because of the long and lasting friendships I’ve developed with other members. I haven’t missed an annual meeting in about 10 years! The vast majority of people who go to the annual meetings are there to see friends as much as attend the meeting. There are usually evenings spent at black lights, day trips after the meeting, days spent looking at collections, and so on. And you can learn some amazing things. Where else are you going to meet a student who just spend a few months on Jamaica trying to estimate home ranges and population sizes of Papilio homerus?? Where else can you sift through the debris of someone’s blacklight trap while listening to descriptions of new species?? And the meetings are usually in pretty interesting areas to collect – the last few have been in Mississippi, Mexico and central Washington, and the next few will be Connecticut, western Colorado and northern Florida.

Think about it…

John

[beetlehorn]

I just thought I should ask a question regarding membership to the lep society on behalf of those of us that might be interested. How does one become a member, and is there a fee (annual, monthly...)? Tom

[jshuey]

There is an annual membership fee - $45 per year (in the US – postage is more for members outside of the US). For this you get hard copies of the Newsletter, Journal, bi-annual Membership list (great for figuring out new trading partners) and the Season Summary (also great for figuring out where to collect on road trips).

You can get information on how to join at www.lepsoc.org/ .

This web site has all back issues of the Journal on-line as well (with a 2-year delay in posting the latest issues) and will very soon have the News of the Lepisdopterists' Society as well (scanned but not yet indexed and posted – so it should literally be any week now).

And of course, there is the annual meeting - The 2011 meeting of the Lepidopterists' Society will be held at Yale University in New Haven Connecticut. Meeting dates are June 23 through 26. Collecting and observing trips are planned for before and after the meetings, and details for these will be posted on the web site as they become finalized.

[Chris Grinter]

It's a great society to be part of, been a member since I was 15. The Pacific Coast branch of the LepSoc has meetings on years when the national meeting is on the eastern half of the US. This year is the 22-24 July in Prescott Arizona! Same gist as the national meeting, just smaller. (and better collecting!)