What Is Cameraderie?
Cameraderie is a youth birding and nature photography program started by the Vancouver Audubon Society, founded by Shaunak Deshpande. The program connects youth ages 10-18 with experienced birders and photographers in the Vancouver and Portland area, creating a community where young people can develop real skills in both bird identification and nature photography. What started as conversations between talented teen photographers and Vancouver Audubon has grown into an active program with monthly walks, zooms, and workshops. Cameraderie believes that when young people understand the natural world around them, they become its most passionate advocates.
Monthly Bird Walks
Each month Cameraderie organizes bird walks at some of the best natural areas in the Pacific Northwest, including Steigerwald Lake NWR, Ridgefield NWR, Conboy Lake NWR, and Sams Walker along the Columbia River Gorge. Walks are led by experienced birder and photographer Ken Pitts alongside volunteer guides, giving youth the opportunity to learn bird identification, observe wildlife behavior, and practice photography in the field. Parents are always welcome and encouraged to join. Our walks typically run from early morning through midday to catch peak bird activity, and no prior experience is needed, just curiosity and a love of the outdoors.
Photography Zoom Sessions
Roughly one week after each walk, Cameraderie members gather on Zoom to share and discuss the photos they took in the field. Each member has the opportunity to present their favorite shots and receive feedback from experienced wildlife photographers including Jon Pugmire, one of the Pacific Northwest’s most accomplished nature photographers.
The sessions focus on both the technical side of photography, composition, lighting, and editing, and the creative side, helping members develop their own visual style. These Zoom sessions have become one of the most popular parts of the program, creating a supportive community where members encourage each other to keep improving.
Educational Workshops
Beyond our regular walks and Zoom sessions, Cameraderie brings hands-on photography education directly to local schools and community programs. This summer we partnered with JWR in Camas to run a five day nature photography workshop for local elementary school students, reaching over 115 kids with lessons on composition, lighting, perspective, and visual storytelling.
We also have a community camera and binocular loan program through Vancouver Audubon Society with 9 kits currently, making professional wildlife photography equipment available to youth who don’t have their own gear. Our goal is to remove every barrier that might prevent a young person from experiencing the joy of birding and nature photography.
Wings of Change 2026 Fundraiser
Wings of Change is Cameraderie’s summer fundraiser, running from July through November 2026. The fundraiser has two goals:
- Donating birding kits including binoculars and field guides to local elementary and middle schools.
- Contributing to local habitat restoration work through events and through donations from our fundraiser at places such as at Sams Walker.
One of the biggest barriers to youth participation in birding is simply not having access to equipment, a student shows up excited and has nothing to use. Wings of Change directly addresses that gap by putting real equipment in the hands of local youth and into school classrooms where it can be used year after year. This summer Cameraderie has hosted 8 events with more than 145 attendees, raised nearly $1000 in donations, and reached nearly 8,000 people through social media. Donations to Wings of Change go through Vancouver Audubon Society and can be made through the PayPal link below. Every contribution, no matter the size, goes directly toward birding kits and restoration work right here in our community.
To make a Donation, Donate Here: VAS Paypal. Press “General Donation” and write “For Cameraderie/Wings of Change”.
Next Meeting Where? Steigerwald Lake NWR
When: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm on Saturday, August 15th
At Steigerwald Lake NWR and the Washougal Greenway Trail. Participants split into teams and spend the morning competing to spot as many bird species as possible across different trails. The day wraps up with a species count, a small awards ceremony, and a celebration of everything Wings of Change has accomplished so far this summer. All ages and experience levels are welcome, you don’t need to be an expert birder to participate, just bring your enthusiasm and your love of the outdoors.
Future Walks and Events:
Photography Zoom Session (Saturday, August 22nd, 6:45pm – 7:45pm)
Sam’s Walker Habitat Restoration (September 5th, 8:00am – 12:00pm)
“I founded Cameraderie because I wanted youth in my community to experience what birding gave me, a reason to slow down and experience the nature of the world.” – Shaunak Deshpande