OUTDOOR WILDLIFE LEARNING SITES
(OWLS)

OWLs are outdoor environmental and wildlife laboratories developed for educational purposes. This WWW site is dedicated to the development and utilization of such learning resources. The OWLs project in North Dakota was initiated and is supported by North Dakota Game and Fish. While the material linked to this page will be focused primarily on the official OWLs concept and will attempt primarily to bring attention to the schools implementing OWLs projects, we will also recognize similar attempts to create habitat, to preserve native vegetation, to develop game and nongame wildlife resources, and to promote all forms of education and appreciation related to these resources. We welcome your suggestions.

OWLS Guidelines for North Dakota Schools and Communities


This site also hopes to offer experiences that may change the way that some people understand possible relationships among learning, technology, and hands-on experiences. Too often, people interested in biology assume that direct experience is the most effective way to learn about and appreciate biology and they also assume that technology may represent a threat to this kind of learning. This view is too simplistic. Learning results from thinking and manual activity may or may not result in thinking. Manual activity such as planting trees or walking about in the outdoors will develop understanding and appreciation only when it results in some mental work to accompany the physical work. Technology can involve students in opportunities to think about their outdoor experiences.

We do hope to provide learners of all ages some different experiences with technology. Technology is not just a mechanism for delivering information to the learner - it can also be a way to explore ideas with others and a way to engage learners in activities that lead to personal understanding and to pesonal commitment. You will not gain the full benefit of experiences provided by technology or any other form of education if you believe you should passively allow the experiences to educate you. The full benefit of any learning experience is to be achieved when we take an active role. The OWLS project is about participation.

Images From OWLS Sites

Video Segments Explaining OWLS Program

Download Documents Related to OWLS Program

Clipart collection - download images for use in student projects

OWLS Weeds Curriculum Ideas - learning activities using OWLS

For Questions about the OWLS program contact:

Chris Grondahl or Dave Jensen
North Dakota Game and Fish
100 N Bismarck Expressway
Bismarck, ND 58501
 


Servers for the NDWild Project are located at the University of North Dakota.

Since Mar. 1, 1997, OWL materials have been accessed times.

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