Featured at Festivals: Braille Challenge and Hope In Action

By Jessica Parrish, Tabling Coordinator

Tampa Audubon Society attended two festivals in February: Florida Regional Braille Challenge and Hope in Action.

Mic McCarty at the Florida Regional Braille Challenge.

The Florida Regional Braille Challenge gathered blind and low vision children together to compete in the braille challenges. With the theme being “Birds of a Feather, Braille Together,” TAS had to attend! Although blind and low vision children cannot bird by eye, it was heartwarming to speak to these kids about something they can do: bird by ear! Jessica and Mic spoke to 30 plus attendees about common backyard bird songs and birding opportunities through Hillsborough County. The organizers even printed some of our education material in braille!

Jessica Parrish at Hope in Action

Hope in Action was an event organized by Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots program created to get kids involved with the environment. Jessica and Sada spoke to 70 plus people over the two day event at the beautiful University of Tampa campus at Plant Hall. It was so inspiring seeing so many of us to partner together with Tampa's youth to discuss and plan their further and continued investment in the environment.