Mincy Conservation Area (Taney County), Mo.  --  Birders say the song of the Swainson's Warbler sounds similar to "SO, SO, SO, SO, SWEET-TO-HEAR".   The warbler is a drab little bird about the size of a gold finch.  Ozark birders hope they'll hear its sweet song more often in new canebrakes planted at the Mincy Conservation Area in coming years.

In the hottest week of the summer thus far, 16 sophomores and juniors from regional high schools learned about Ozarks wetlands, animals and ecology from local biology experts.  Many learning experiences came through hard work under the summer sun, including replanting and repairing the canebrakes that had been damaged by invading cedars and pines, and the installation of a new bridge.

The students were chosen through the Green Leadership Academy for Diverse Ecosystems program, or G.L.A.D.E., a pilot program which began this summer.  It's similiar to the National Park Service's Youth Conservation Corp that began in the 1970s.

While the students braved hungry chiggers and other critters they may have never encountered before, the group became totally immersed in their surroundings.  They spent the week finding out about the natural air-conditions of a cave, learning about Missouri's poisonous snakes and tracking just a few of the roughly 84,000 Swainson's Warblers left on the planet.

Ariel Braswell, a Branson High School Junior, enjoyed capturing and banding a few of these songbirds... even though it meant waking at 4 a.m.

"You always see the birds in the trees and just watch them go by.  And you don't think anything about it.  But then, once you're holding one, you get to look at them up close.  You get to feel what you're working for".

G.L.A.D.E. is funded from the Together-Green project, and was one of only 41 grants given from automobile manufacturer Toyota and the National Audubon Society.  That grant was facilitated through Missouri State University and local groups, including the Greater Ozarks Audubon Society and Bass Pro Shops. 

Just like the small cane shoots that the students replanted during their project, the G.L.A.D.E. organizers hope their students will go home and grow in a simliar way.

Students will continue their environmental focus in their own communities, such as Ava, Reeds Spring, Ozark and others.  G.L.A.D.E. organizers will support student projects in coming months and hope some of the original student group will return next Summer and aide in another project with a new set of participants.

"We continue to build this corp of young environmental leaders who'll take charge in their communities and go off and do some awesome things", said Celeste Prussia, Assistant Director of the G.L.A.D.E. project.

She added, "they are acting today to shape tomorrow".