Olivia Bouler – Her Passion is "For the Birds"!
12-year-old Olivia Bouler has always had a love of two things – artistry, namely drawing and painting, and the birds she sees as she and her family enjoy the outdoors. In particular, Olivia loves the birds she sees when visiting family in the Gulf of Mexico. So when the Gulf of Mexico suffered a major oil spill in April 2010 that severely affected its wildlife, Olivia was distraught, and she knew she had to try to help.
As Olivia thought about what she could do, her passion for art came to mind, and thus her inspirational idea was born. Olivia decided that she would draw and paint pictures of birds and sell them to raise money for the birds affected by the oil spill. She took her idea to the National Audubon Society, and with their help she has now raised $200,000! But best of all, she shows that anyone with just a simple idea, even a kid like her, can do their part to help make the world a better place!
In this video, Olivia talks about her love of birds and her inspiring effort to help them.
Additional Resources:
- Here’s a website that tells Olivia’s story and displays some of her wonderful artwork!
- Here’s an article that tells more about Olivia and the impact her efforts are having.
Topics for Discussion:
- What qualities does Olivia have that make her want to help the birds affected by the oil spill?
- How do you think Olivia feels to realize that her efforts have helped raise $200,000?
Take Action:
- Olivia took her passion for art and used it to help make the world better. What passion do you have that you can use to do the same?
- Visit Olivia’s website to learn more about her wonderful effort and how you can help support it!
Teacher Features:
- Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
- Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.
