Sandy Beck, education director with the St. Francis Wildlife Association, will tell us about three native species - the Great Horned, Barred and Screech Owls. She will explain the unique adaptations that make them spectacular nocturnal hunters and inform us about specific actions we can take to help protect these fascinating birds.
Sandy Beck has served as Education Director with the St. Francis Wildlife Association since 1989.
St. Francis Wildlife, a local non-profit organization, rescues and rehabilitates 3,500 sick, injured, and orphaned wild birds and animals from North Florida and South Georgia every year.
Sandy's Wild Classroom programs - which feature disabled raptors, mammals and reptiles - promote awareness, appreciation and understanding of native wildlife and the habitats we share.
In addition to her work with St. Francis Wildlife, she teaches gifted and talented students at Astoria Park Elementary, is a regular contributor to Florida Wildlife Magazine ,writes a monthly environmental column for the Tallahassee Democrat Chronicle, and works as a freelance writer for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The Leon Association for Science Teaching honored her with their Excellence in Science Teaching Award, and in 2008, The Florida Magazine Association presented her with their Charlie Award for Writing Excellence
http://www.charlieawards.org/awards/index.cfm
In 2009, The Tallahassee Community College Women's History Month Committee honored Sandy and nine other local women - including Susan Cerulean and Donna Legare - with their annual Women's History Month award. The theme was "Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet."
Sandy is passionate about ensuring that "wildness has a secure place in our collective future."