The Frontiers in Ornithology Association aims to educate and inspire youth to take their passion for birds to a higher level by encouraging opportunities in ornithology, conservation science, and related academic and professional pursuits.
The Frontiers in Ornithology Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
All revenue generated through registration, sponsorships and donated funds will be used directly to offset the cost of hosting and conducting the Frontiers in Ornithology Symposium. There are no salaried personnel involved with the event and all excess funds will be donated to young birder-focused organizations via the Bill Stewart Frontiers Fund and the development of future Frontiers Field Institutes.
All proceeds from the 2019 Symposium went into The Frontiers Fund. All attendees were given one ticket to vote for one of three programs. The programs were selected by the Frontiers Team based on their benefit to youth through education, research, or conservation activities. Each program received a portion of the Fund based on the final vote by attendees in the ratio of 50/30/20.
The 2019 recipient programs were:
Hog Island Audubon Camps (youth camps) – 50%
Maryland Avian Research & Conservation (MARC) Fund for Youth – 30%
Ohio Young Birders Club – 20%
The Frontiers planning team would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who helped make the 2019 Frontiers in Ornithology Symposium a resounding success. The sold-out event was attended by nearly 150 youth, speakers, volunteers, and mentors, and attendees joined us from 14 states. We absolutely could not have put on such an incredible inaugural symposium without the help of our generous speakers, sponsors, and volunteers. Thank you for making this event possible, and we look forward to your continued support!
In November 2019, Bill Stewart, the driving force behind the symposium, succumbed to a long-fought battle with cancer. While his presence could never be replaced, the team is still dedicated to continuing the Frontiers in Ornithology Symposium in 2022 and beyond. This is just one of many ways that Bill’s legacy will live on.
