TITLE
title
Request Submitted by Library Services to Apply for Flight Path Project Funding With HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and STAR Net
body
BRIEF OVERVIEW
With more than one billion birds killed by window strikes each year in the United States alone, Flight Path taps into the popularity of bird watching and provides local communities with fun activities to get to know their local birds and promote bird health and safety. Flight Path offers a robust set of materials to create fun and educational events that give communities the opportunity to learn about bird migration and local and regional birds, and to become local science explorers themselves.
The Spring Hill Branch Library is eager to participate in this project to deepen community engagement with STEAM topics, particularly biology and earth science, in ways that are interactive, accessible, and hyper-local. We’ve seen growing interest among our patrons - children, teens, and adults - in hands-on science programming, nature exploration, and environmental stewardship. These interests align especially well with citizen science initiatives that allow participants to contribute meaningfully to real-world research while learning more about the ecosystems around them.
The Spring Hill Branch Library serves a diverse, intergenerational community with strong connections to local natural areas, including parks, preserves, and nearby coastal ecosystems. Many of our patrons are homeschool families, retired educators, or outdoor enthusiasts who are eager for learning opportunities grounded in local relevance. Our collection includes materials on biology, birds, Florida wildlife, climate, and conservation, and we regularly feature displays on these topics.
We have previously offered STEAM programming such as hands-on science experiments, nature talks with local experts. While we’ve offered general science programs, we are excited to expand specifically into ornithology, as birds are both accessible and compelling entry points into deeper scientific inquiry. Birdwatching programs, migration tracking, and habitat preservation efforts are all topics we would love to introduce or enhance through this project.
This opportunity would help us build on our STEAM foundation, empower citizen science participation, and connect our community with meaningful, place-based learning experiences.
Flight Path is sponsored by the Education and Learning Research Group at the Space Science Institute (SSI).
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact. If awarded, Library Services will receive:
• $500 honorarium to help cover the cost of events and program outreach
• Bird friendly tape
• Regional bird ID cards
• Bird watching kit (binoculars, magnifying glass) (final item TBD)
• “Lights Out” stickers that glow in dark (final item TBD)
• Bookmarks with bird-friendly tips/facts (final item TBD)
• Informal Activity Guides - Created by STAR Net including curated materials provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, including
• How-To Guide for hosting Bio Blitzes (Merlin)
• Promotional Materials (print and digital) to publicize events
• Digital Copies of Wild Hope episodes, Wild Hope: Building for Birds; and Wild Hope: Puffling Patrol
LEGAL NOTE
The Board has the authority to act upon this matter pursuant to Sec. 125.01(1), Florida Statutes.
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the Board approve and authorize staff to electronically submit the Flight Path Project application.