By: Ya'el McLoud
June 6, 2021
LOVELAND, CO— The Zoom meeting opened up with a warm greeting from Kevin Cook, presenter for the Wilderness Window. Cook took his time saying hello to the regular attendees and asked them each how they were doing.
Photo by: Ya'el McLoud
Cook has been doing the adult learning program, called the Wilderness Window for the past 30 years at retirement homes and libraries.
Carol Laborde, who was there with her husband said, they have been attending for 20 years. Laborde said, “We like it very much because we learn something every time and it's very entertaining.”
For the past 15 years, Cook has chosen a theme for the year's program and then presented a new topic for each month.
Each month Cook presents a new environmental concern, letting his love and experience with animals take the lead. Each concern is captured through the narrative of one naturalist hero, and a proposal on how the issue can now be addressed in honor of that hero.
On June 2nd, the topic chosen was Joseph James Hickey “JJ”, an ornithologist who led the fight against DDT and ensured the re-establishment of Peregrine Falcons in the eastern U.S.
In honor of Hickey, Cook urged attendees to be aware of the billions of birds that die each year due to littered fishing string; then took the time to lead the group through his proposals.
An excise tax on fishing lines, followed by an educational opportunity for middle school, high school, and college students where they can earn credits through community service engagements cleaning up string, twine, and fishing line, at local bodies of water.
“Hickey saw a problem and went to work to stop it by taking both education and project-oriented goal,” Cook said.
Jon Platt, who has been attending Wilderness Window for five years, said “When he goes outside, he hears the birds and sees the flowers, and has an interest in nature because Kevin’s event spurs him on to learn more about nature.”
After the presentation was over, Cook said that he had a passion for teaching through sharing his own experiences. When asked what some of his favorite experiences were Cook said, “What I really love is sharing my passion for life.”
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