Chris Keefer has a history with the Arboretum and will be teaching a class at Landis, Early Birding: A Birding Workshop for Kids! from 10:00 am to 12:00 PM, Saturday, June 7.
You have participated in the writing workshops at Landis, but you weren’t new to the Arboretum before that. Tell us a little about your involvement with the Arb in the past.
I grew up not far from the Arboretum, and we used to hike there as kids. It was always a fascinating place for its tree collections. I’ve watched the Arboretum grow and thrive over the past three decades. I’ve helped the Arboretum with their bluebird boxes, I’ve led bird walks there, I’ve participated in many science education programs with George Steele and many writing workshops over the years. I’m really proud of its accomplishments and direction.
Do you have a favorite spot or spots at the arb?
I’m a fan of the Van Loveland Garden, the lilac hills, and the crab apple orchard.
You are a published author. What is your genre?
I write historical mysteries. My Carrie Lisbon Mysteries are gritty whodunits set in 1900, the classic horse and buggy time period. The setting for each book is a place similar to Esperance and its surrounding hamlets and communities.
I also wrote a chapbook of humorous rants and am currently writing content for the New York New Jersey Trail Conference Instagram page. I write weekly news of my hometown in the Times Journal newspaper out of Schoharie County, and we just started an online weekly writing workshop associated with the Worcester-Schenevus Library.
What got you interested in birding?
When I was a kid, we lived on an old, defunct dairy farm. Birds were everywhere! I was always outdoors exploring, and they were always present and so watchable. One of my earliest bird encounters was being dive-bombed by a red-winged blackbird because I walked too close to its nest. I must have been six or seven. I was hooked after that interaction, and I began to actively seek out birds, to learn their sounds, and to identify them without even thinking about it.
When did you begin teaching birding skills to kids, and what engages you about it?
When I wrote Birding Trips and Trivia, a weekly newspaper column about birds and birding for the Daily Gazette, I was approached by the science chair at the Heldeberg Workshop, a day camp in Albany County about teaching birding skills to school kids during the summer. That was about 1993. I could make up my own curriculum and man, did I have fun with that! Kids want to play, and be entertained, but they also want to explore what fascinates them. They have a real empathy for the natural world and with just a few tips and tricks and a little practice, they have the skills that will carry them through a lifetime hobby. We played games related to birds, learned simple ways to attract birds and started life lists. The wonder on kids’ faces and their excitement about discovery is truly a joy to see.
Do you have a favorite bird, or birds that you really enjoy finding or listening to?
Nope. I love them all.
You’re an author and a teacher. What would you like your legacy in the world to be?
I’m so thrilled and grateful to have my books out in the world. I hope folks enjoy them for years to come. I so enjoy teaching children: from classroom lessons, to popsicles on the playground, to Migration Hopscotch, to taking kids bowling and swimming and birding, I hope they’ll remember and pass on the fun we had.
Where can readers find your books or get in touch with you about your Early Birders program?
Visit my website: www.authorchriskeefer.com. Fill out the contact page, and/or follow me on Facebook/ authorchriskeefer, and direct message me. I love to hear from readers and birders.