Naugatuck Valley Audubon and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will host a program entitled Bird Tales on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at  7:00 pm at the Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Avenue, Derby.

Ken Elkins, Education Program Manager at the Bent of the River Audubon Center, will give a presentation on the “Bird Tales” program he developed with Randy Griffin, a dementia care specialist. The program uses multisensory stimulation and the natural outdoor world of birds to help people living with dementia to interact with their environment and share a meaningful experience with others.

Observing birds through sight, sound, smell and touch can encourage family interactions, including elders with advanced dementia.  It has been known to lift moods for the rest of the day. Ken will share a short video about the program and explain how it was created, its success so far, and how you might be able to get involved and share it with family members or friends who live in a long term care facility.

Ken’s interest in birds began when he was 10 years old, watching the birds at his grandmother’s feeders in Vermont and he has been obsessed ever since.  He earned his degree in Environmental Biology from State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Ken worked in the environmental education field for over 10 years before joining the Bent of the River Audubon Center staff in 2008.

A donation of $4.00/adult and $2/student, child or member is requested. Light refreshments will be served after the meeting.  For further information, directions or to register, please phone the Kellogg Environmental Center at (203) 734-2513 or contact Dennis Kocyla at (203) 734-9325 or dennisk32@yahoo.com