The Friends of the Heinz Refuge Photo Group will host its annual “Learning about the Environment Through the Lens” Program for area high school students at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum near Philadelphia.

The program will accept students age 14-18 and will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 3 and from 9 a.m. to noon May 10.

For 10 years the program has been offered, students have used 35mm SLR film cameras. While these cameras provided a great foundation for learning it was time for the program to go digital.

The group hopes to have SLR styled digital cameras and lenses dedicated specifically to the TTL program in the future. But for now students can bring their own cameras. They should understand their basic operation, including the manual mode, and have their own digital media. Students opting to bring their own cameras should also bring their instruction manual. Photo Group members mentoring will also be making some of their own equipment available and refuge equipment will also be used for the program

The first Saturday session includes classroom learning about the refuge, Tinicum Marsh, their role in the Darby Creek Watershed and Delaware Estuary, and about both the art and science of photography. After lunch the students are then asked to capture images on the refuge based on a theme they are given. They are teamed up with Photo Group mentors who are there to advise and to lend their expertise and experience.

On the second Saturday, the students will create individual poster displays as well as a team display using the images they shot and their own text and captions. They will receive certificates of completion and the displays will be exhibited at the refuge for several weeks.

Pre-registration is required. To pre-register, call 215-365-3118. Space is limited and students will be taken on a first call, first serve basis.

4/4/2008