As co-director of Amigos Alados, a migratory bird study and pen pal project that serves students in the US, Mexico, and Canada, I can attest that Susan Bonfield, Environment for the Americas, and World Migratory Bird Day are doing an amazing job of environmental education, advocacy, and activism across the Americas. In 2007, a friend and I founded Amigos Alados , greatly inspired by Birds Beyond Borders, a bird pen pal project that Susan had founded earlier in Colorado. Early on in our project, I discovered many helpful resources and bird education materials in her online BirdDay shop. In 2018, after Susan visited Mexico for a WMBD event and met my co-director there, Amigos Alados entered into a fiscal sponsor relationship with EFTA. Since that time, Susan Bonfield and EFTA have provided us with expert advice on our program content and management, as well as on the children's birding and nature festival we co-sponsor each year in Point Reyes Station, California. We are deeply grateful to be associated with Susan Bonfield, EFTA, and WMBD.
This organization in its formative stages I have followed for over forty years first as a traditional,non-profit, then in 2008 after it was incorporated as EFTA. It has expanded to global status serving countries, their peoples and their environments across Europe and the Americas.with a staff of twenty, it provides supervision of over 150 interns in 800 sites that provide environmental education and opportunities for employment.
I love all the conservation+nature+human work this group does. Book club, nature walks, bird day, and international travel! It’s a fun group to get the beginner to birds engaged!!!
EFTA has it all: leadership who are passionate about bird diversity and human diversity, incredible internship opportunities, and broad reach into connecting humans around the world who are passionate about birds. This it the ONE and ONLY sponsor of World Migratory Bird Day which is celebrated twice every year on the second Saturday in May and October to recognize both the northward and southward migrations of birds. During a time of great environmental and political uncertainty, I find this to be a haven for great human and bird connections. I am thoroughly impressed by this nonprofit! EFTA: Thanks for the wonderful work you do!
I was lucky enough to be accepted to their Resource Assistants program in collaboration with the US Forest Service and it was an incredible experience. Environment for the Americas was very communicative and answered all of my questions within a reasonable time frame. Additionally, their program resulted in a full-time, permanent job for me so I am forever thankful to them for connecting me to the Forest Service.
Environment for the Americas was an invaluable opportunity that allowed me to get a quick sense of what it would be like to work for the National Park Service. By doing this internship alone, I feel more hopeful that I will be able to find a job in the environmental field, and that there are like-minded people who care about the environment just as much as I do. I also feel like I was able to leave a personal impact on my site, through creating programs, connecting with the public, and bringing a different perspective to the NPS table. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge Environment for the Americas for its notable effort in aiding marginalized groups of people get started in this career, which has meaningful and tangible impact for all parties involved.
As a EFTA intern, I got to see first-hand the positive impact this organization has not only in the environment but with the community as well.
EFTA saw my love for the environment and provided me with a position that has opened up many doors for me to grow. Working as a Interpretation and Education intern with a national park has been a wonderful experience which allowed me to join the park's Natural Resources team right after. This was all thanks to the amazing people at EFTA.
Environment for the Americas has been an absolute and early game-changer leading on inclusivity, BIPOC leadership and hemispheric-wide programs that has elevated conservation leaders from across the Americas, including the Caribbean islands. As a former President of BirdsCaribbean and board member of BirdLife Jamaica – I have witnessed how important the jobs, internships and other opportunities created by EFTA have been in enhancing bird-habitat conservation. It has been such a joy to see EFTA continue to be an effective organization. Thank you!!
I'm truly inspired by the work EFTA is doing across both the US and Latin America.
Just think about it: most of our Colorado birds fill the skies in spring and summer, but now, in October, it's quiet—they’ve flown south. It's crucial to raise awareness across the Americas about the importance of protecting birds and their habitats. EFTA's efforts are invaluable in making this happen.
Their mission is both about educating people and bird conservation. Plus, I love the local events that they have in our community.
Since 2018 we have been actively collaborating with Environment for the Americas and have witnessed the amazing impact it has achieved by bringing together thousands of bird biologists, enthusiasts, educators, and students from across the Western Hemisphere. This is indeed a great accomplishment across, borders, languages, and cultures. Muchas Gracias!
I have been involved with EFTA since its inception and have been very impressed with the accomplishments over the years. From the first program of migratory bird education, to research regarding minority populations in the outdoors, to current programs involving minority internship programs and a variety of research; I have found that EFTA addresses a variety of needs around the world regarding conservation education. They were asked by the United Nations to be the lead organization for World Migratory Bird Day since they have such great experience in managing such a program for the western hemisphere. Susan Bonfield has grown the organization from a staff of 3 to more than 30 staff located across the hemisphere. Working with Federal agencies, other nonprofits, and corporations to fund much needed work. Thank you EFTA for all you do.
Environment for the Americas is an organization dedicated to helping engage diverse audiences in bird appreciation and conservation. I’ve worked professionally and as a volunteer with the organization for years and I value their people and their mission. The intern program, Bird festivals (World Migratory Bird Day) educational programs, bird book club, and work in the bird conservation field are invaluable for the conservation of birds and their habitat. I can’t say enough about what a great organization Environment for the Americas is!
I've been working with the Environment for the Americas for nearly 20 years, and I'm honored to be here. The people are lovely to work with. The team is open-minded, patient, and collaborative. The management is approachable and welcomes ideas. The projects, tasks, and culture are educational, inspiring, fun, and serious about bird conservation. Anyone who receives the opportunity to work with this incredibly diverse, dedicated, and supportive team will be on the path to their dream career.