NextGen Council

What does the Council do?

The council hosts a number of activities throughout the year. Visit our calendar to learn more.

• Beers for Birds trivia nights
• BIPOC Outings
• Neighborhood Bird Outings for Young Adults <40
• Birds and Mindfulness Workshop
• Birding and Photography workshop
• The quarterly NextGen Newsletter

The Council also advises Birds Connect Seattle staff members on employing and engaging younger and more diverse audiences. We are always looking for new ideas and will look forward to hearing from new council members about their own ideas for future engagement opportunities.

Being on the NextGen Council

The Council currently meets virtually either once or twice per month for 1.5 hours in total, generally in the evening. In addition, members gain the following benefits for their service:

• Connect with peers who have similar interests in birds and nature;
• Opportunities for equity and justice trainings and practicing leadership skills;
• Access to regular bird and nature outings with council members and the BCS community;
• The satisfaction of supporting an organization that advocates and organizes for cities where people and birds thrive.

For general questions, please contact Community Engagement Manager, Hanae Bettencourt, via email or phone at (206) 523-8243 ext. 108 (messages only).

History of the Council

The NextGen Council was formed in 2018. As a more than 100-year-old organization, we have a rich history of conservation achievements, but our programs have not been sufficiently informed by or served diverse audiences. This is not the Birds Connect Seattle of the future. Our strategic plan includes an increased commitment to intentional collaboration with communities that have been excluded or sidelined by the mainstream environmental movements of the past. The NextGen Council is one part of these efforts.