Interview with Ethan Greenberg, by Cindy Hardin, LAAS Director of Outdoor Education

January 14, 2022

As Director of Outdoor Education for Los Angeles Audubon, I routinely see over 3,000 students a year on field trips to the Ballona Wetlands and Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area. For the most part, we only see these students on one or two field trips, and then they are off to the next grade level and onward.

It is difficult to really quantify the impact of the students’ experience from these trips, but occasionally a past attendee resurfaces, and we find that their field trip(s) really did have an impact on their lives and learning experiences. Ethan Greenberg is one such student, and I had the delightful experience of re-connecting with him last year as he worked on a special project for students deprived of a field trip due to the pandemic. Ethan graciously agreed to be interviewed about his experience at Ballona and the effect that it has had on his life. I am thrilled to share his thoughts with you, and to see that our mission to connect young people with wildlife can be quite substantive.

C.H.— Can you tell me a little bit about your first trip to Ballona? How many years ago was that?

E.G. — My first trip to Ballona Wetlands was about nine years ago. I was in Mrs. Farris’s third grade class at Grandview Elementary, and we went on a field trip to the Wetlands with the other third grade classes at my school. Grandview’s third grade classes had been going on this field trip for many years. We explored the salt pan area behind the gate. We learned about the history of the area, the wetlands ecosystem, the plants, the animals, the butterflies, and (of course) the birds. I remember noticing some of the herons and egrets, and being fascinated by how they hunted. They could stand so still and then quickly “stab and grab” their prey. I was hooked.

C.H.— How did the field trip inspire your interest in birds, birding and the natural world?

E.G. — That was the day I started to fall in love with birds. I still have the “Birds of Ballona Wetlands” checklist from that trip. I remember being amazed by the sheer variety of birds in the wetlands. That day we saw all of the common herons and egrets, a variety of ducks and shorebirds, a kingfisher, a pelican, and so much more. Before that trip, I don’t think I noticed birds beyond the crows, pigeons, and sparrows in my neighborhood. But after that, I noticed the birds everywhere I went. My family is pretty outdoorsy to begin with; we always did a lot of hiking and camping. After Ballona, I started to incorporate birding into our travel. I’d research the birds that I might see, and I’d see how many I could find along the way. As I got older and started to study more biology, I also came to appreciate how the birds connect to their ecosystem and how important it was to protect different habitats.

C.H.— Any favorite outdoor spots, both locally and further afield?

E.G. — Locally, I still love visiting Ballona. And I also really enjoy Madrona Marsh and Polliwog Park, especially during spring migration. Some of my favorite birding excursions have been in Balcones Canyonlands, TX (near Austin), High Island, TX (near Houston), and Camp Colorado in Estes Park, CO (the week-long ABA camp for young birders).

C.H.— I know that we worked on a project last year that helped bring nature to students that were learning remotely. Could you please describe what motivated you to do this, and how that worked out?

E.G. — Some time around Thanksgiving of 2020, I realized that the pandemic had closed or cancelled so many things, it was probably limiting kids’ field trips as well. And it just hit me: none of the Manhattan Beach third graders would get to go on the annual trip to Ballona Wetlands. I got really sad and upset, but I was determined to do something about it. I just couldn’t bear the thought of those kids missing out on that trip and that chance to connect with nature. I started brainstorming ideas, and I came up with a plan to design a virtual field trip to Ballona Wetlands that I could present to kids on Zoom. I ran the idea by Mrs. Farris (my former third grade teacher), who connected me with a few other third grade teachers. She also connected me with you, which ensured I had a solid understanding of the Wetlands’ history and the main points you teach in your actual tours. I built a draft presentation, with lots of photos and videos and games to keep the kids’ attention. I rehearsed it with several elementary teachers I knew and tried to incorporate their feedback. In the end, I was able to present the hour-long session to nine different third grade classes — about 200 kids in total. A lot of them asked questions and seemed really engaged. When the pandemic calmed down in late Spring, 2021, I invited any interested kids and parents to join me for an in-person nature walk. We did it at Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden because Ballona was still closed. I taught the kids about some of the local plants, turtles, and butterflies, and I showed them how to identify some of the common birds. Fortunately, it was spring migration, so we saw a mother sparrow feeding her babies, and we saw a beautiful Western Tanager. I hope we can go back to in-person field trips to Ballona this spring. But if we can’t, I plan to offer my virtual tours and local nature walks again to any of the third grade classes that may be interested.

C.H.— I know you are going away to college next Fall, and I think you mentioned your interest in birding on your application. Could you please tell me a little more about that?

E.G. — For my personal statement (which I attached), I chose to write about my love of birds and birding. I talked about my connection to Ballona and my motivation to give back by creating the virtual field trip. I also talked about my internship this past summer in Sitka, AK. I spent a month working at the Alaska Raptor Center, where I helped diagnose and rehabilitate injured hawks, eagles, and owls. It was an amazing experience.

C.H.— You will be in a new part of the country this Fall-have you picked out any nature spots to visit on the other side of the country?

E.G. — I’ll be headed to Dartmouth, in Hanover, New Hampshire. New Hampshire seems like it’s one giant birding playground, especially since so many of the eastern species will be new to me. I’m really excited about spring migration and summer birding, since a lot of the beautiful eastern warblers don’t just pass through New Hampshire, they actually nest and breed there for the summer. I also hope to get to Cape May, NJ some time during my four years on the East Coast. Everyone talks about what an amazing birding hotspot it is; I want to see it for myself.

C.H.— What would you say to a teacher that might be planning a trip to the Wetlands?

E.G. — Do it. And if you can get one kid to connect to nature, it’s worth it. When I was leading my virtual field trips, that was my goal. If these presentations can spark one kid’s interest in nature or butterflies or lizards, or if they could inspire one kid’s passion for birding, then it will all have been worthwhile. Birding has brought me so much joy. Finding ways to get outside and connect to nature is so valuable. That connection lasts a lifetime. Anything a teacher can do to help kids see the wonders of nature and want to protect those natural spaces — that’s a gift.