Project WILD is an interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education program emphasizing wildlife. The program is designed for educators of kindergarten through twelfth grade. Project WILD capitalizes on the natural interest that children and adults have in wildlife by providing hands-on activities that enhance student learning in all subject and skill areas. Project Wild educational materials are provided to educators through practice, interactive workshops.
In the face of competing needs and pressures affecting the quality and sustainability of life on earth, Project WILD addresses the need for human beings to develop as responsible citizens of our planet. The program emphasizes wildlife because of its intrinsic and ecological values, as well as its importance as a basis for teaching how ecosystems function. Project WILD provides effective methods to teach problem-solving and decision-making. It teaches students how to think, not what to think. Project WILD guides the student through a process that begins with awareness, moves toward understanding, challenges preconceived notions, and instills the confidence, skills, and motivation to take responsible action on behalf of the environment.
MISSIONS and GOALSThe MISSION Project WILD is to provide wildlife-based conservation and environmental education that fosters responsible actions toward wildlife and related natural resources. The GOAL of Project WILD is to assist learners of any age in developing awareness, knowledge, skills, and commitment to result in informed decisions, responsible behavior, and constructive actions concerning wildlife and the environment upon which all life depends.
The basic materials include two activity guides for K-12th grade educators:
the Project WILD K-12 Activity Guide focuses on wildlife and habitat,
and the Project WILD Aquatic Education Activity Guide (developed
through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
emphasizes aquatic wildlife and aquatic ecosystems. The Project WILD materials
have been extensively tested in classroom settings and are evaluated on
an ongoing basis. used outdoors or indoors, the activities contained in
these guides serve as invaluable tools for teachers; naturalists; park,
zoo, and museum educators; and youth group leaders.
WILD activities are organized around a conceptual framework, which addresses
these seven major themes:
Project WILD activities are designed to be used either singly, sequentially,
or in clusters. Each activity has been classroom tested and includes objectives,
methods, background information, materials needed, procedures, evaluation
suggestions, recommended grade levels, subjects, skills, duration, group
size, setting, and key vocabulary. A glossary is provided, as well as cross-references
by topics, school subjects, grade level, and skills.
Additional materials focusing on environmental action, school nature centers,
and elk are also available.
Project WILD state coordinators and facilitators conduct workshops for approximately 55,000 educators each year throughout the 50 states and the District of Columbia. At each workshop (usually 6 hours long), educators receive the materials, as well as practical, hands-on training. In the U.S. Project WILD relies upon a coordinator in each state to deliver the materials and to act as a central contact point for training other educators in his/her state. The coordinators are hired by a variety of wildlife, conservation, and education agencies to coordinate Project WILD in their states. Because they coordinate, plan, and conduct training workshops for educators, coordinators are the heart of Project WILD nationally and internationally.
Project WILD was developed through a joint effort of the Western Association
of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) and the Western Regional Environmental
Education Council, Inc. (WREEC). WAFWA has a longstanding record of
interest and accomplishment in the area of conservation education. WREEC
is a private non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization comprised principally
of representatives of state-level departments of education, and state natural
resource-related agencies. WREEC administers Project WILD at the national
level and co-sponsors Project Learning Tree and Project WET (Water Education
for Teachers). Project WILD is primarily sponsored and supported by state
agencies responsible for wildlife and conservation. It is also supported
by major state, national and international organizations and agencies concerned
with wildlife, education, and the environment. National associate organizations
include the American Fisheries Society, Defenders of Wildlife, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, National Wildlife Federation, The Wildlife
Society, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. International organizations
include: Canadian Wildlife Federation, Czech Junak in Czech Republic, Centre
for Environmental Education in Ahmedabad, India, National Centre for Educational
Materials in Iceland, and Umea University in Sweden.
This material was prepared by Project WILD, 707 Conservation Lane, Gaithersburg,
MD 20878, and is used with permission. Project
Wild Web Site
North Dakota Project Wild Coordinator
David Jensen
Information Specialist, Project Wild/Aquatic Education
(701) 328-6322
ccmail.djensen@ranch.state.nd.us