Kids in the Nest
Educational Society History
In April 2006 my life changed forever. Not only my life was changed, but many of yours were as well. No matter that I was sitting in front of my computer. Together with millions of people around the world, we were brought to Saanich, Hornby Island & Maine USA. We were all exposed to the inner lives of a pair of eagles, mating, doting over their young, and then watching them fly away as quickly as they had flown into each of our lives. Through that amazing and life altering experience, windows to multitudes of exciting possibilities begun to open.
It exposed us to people much like myself, some right around the corner, others all around the world. People who cared about children, our fragile and endangered ecosystem, animal abuses, recycling, education and the lack of it, children dying of hunger, AIDS and many more diseases that you and I never have to concern ourselves with. We saw animals through no fault of their own - hunted, exploited, and some even put on the endangered lists. We saw and learned and were touched and even alarmed with the burgeoning knowledge that there are yet unknown dangerous chain reaction effects resulting from the dynamics that mankind has contributed.
Hundreds of millions of people from all walks of life, different cultures, politics, religions, you name it...we all met each morning through our monitors around a number of Eagle nests, a waterhole from South Africa, and a live cam of Polar Bears streaming to us from Churchill Manitoba Canada.
One morning a fellow Grandma just like myself, saw on TV little Beavers being killed needlessly and inhumanely. We saw before our very eyes a little baby beaver being filmed below the water line, trapped in a leg hold trap, and bubbles coming from its little mouth as it struggled for its last breath. Directly above this little baby beaver, laid its mother, caught in a canibear trap around its torso as she suffocated to death.
We all asked, is it possible that we as humans have reduced ourselves to this? Surely we can do better, and stop making excuses for those that are doing such cowardly and in-humane acts. Yes, we have been exposed to a lot. Sophistication, technology and material riches. All of which I had to explain to a lot of children and explain I did. Here we send men and women into space, and yet we as humans can not come up with a humane apparatus to stop beavers from plugging up a drainage system! When I was asked by my 5 year old Great Niece Katlyn. "What can I do to help the children in South Africa and all the animals," I stepped up to the plate as she did.
Kids in the Nest was thus formed. Many worldwide came together under this umbrella to advise us and help guide us on how we could each make a difference, no matter what the cause was, or issue at hand.
We are all just ONE person making a difference: Campbell Scott from South Africa getting help to the children and animals in there; Carole Noon in Florida saving hundreds of Chimpanzees from laboratories, space programs etc.; Mike Lathigee from Vancouver helping to save captive and abused animals; Daniel Zatz from Alaska exposing the melting of our ice caps, the death and starvation of our Polar Bears and seals; Bird Studies Canada doing extensive mercury poisoning research in eagles which goes right up our food chain to us; Jane Goodall, Dr David Suzuki, Jack Hannah, Aboriginals from around the world, Al Gore, Wing Goodale etc.
All of these amazing, well-informed and educated experts are trying to tell us something. We need to listen!
Every one of these experts is not just talking about this; they are in the field. Walking in it, seeing it, hearing it and bringing what it is they are discovering to the entire world. In many cases they are and have risked their lives to show us all of this. What each of them are doing and have dedicated their lives to could quite possibly save our lives, our children's, and all those that inhabit this planet. Not to mention, Mother Planet herself!
The power of the Internet and those of us who were exposed to the killing of those defenseless beavers last year took those responsible for that cowardly act and made them accountable.
The woman who brought this to our attention saved those remaining Beavers. She initiated an email letter writing campaign over the internet which instigated the local media to expose the horrors done to the beavers. That very passive action, that very first step of sowing the seed, reaped the reward of saving those harmless beavers. It started with ONE person, a woman who willed enough to make a difference.
If we can do that, dear God, surely we can save children, animals, and stop these other abuses right around the world. Through all of these, other things were brought to our attention. Schools who were in desperate need for books, equipment, clothes, computers, medicine, you name it; we were exposed to many needs. Needs that are obtainable if we only know about it, and shown how and what we can do to help. Through Kids in the Nest Educational Society, we are going to do just that.
I learned a most valuable lesson last year through the eyes of a 5-year-old little girl. I learned, that with a little time, dedication and a lot of will, we CAN make a difference through something as simple as networking! Be it financial donations, volunteering, letter writing campaigns, whatever, it all adds up.
If we can come together around an eagle's nest each morning or a water hole in South Africa, and leave our politics and our political views aside, and come together as a united force of caring people: Moms, Dads, Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles Sisters, brothers, corporations, teachers, students, etc. we are then on our way to make this a better planet for ALL.
To those of you who believed as strongly as I did in my passion and vision to make a difference, I thank you. To those who pushed and shoved, and would not let any of us quit, we ALL thank you. To quite literally dozens of volunteers who gave of their time, money, expertise etc to make all this possible, we again thank you. Nothing was overlooked nor was anything ever taken for granted.
We know One person CAN make a difference. So imagine the strength and goodwill of many, many one persons who will take the step and make a difference! This was not then, nor is it now a one-man show. This program Kids In the Nest is as much yours as it is any of ours. It took a Village worldwide to get us here, and it's a village of children and animals who are about to reap the rewards of all of your hard work. Our volunteer base of which I am just one, is huge and we are here to the very end!
Charlie L. Hilliard - President, Kids In The Nest Education Society