Project Wild

What is Project WILD?

Project WILD is one of the most widley-used conservation and environmental education programs among educators of students in kindergarten through high school. It is based on the premise that young people and educators have a vital interest in learning about our natural world. Emphasizing wildlife because of its intrinsic value, Project WILD addresses the need for human beings to develop as responsible citizens of our planet.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is the Maine sponsor of this award-winning program. Workshops are offered to teachers and other educators interested in integrating wildlife and conservation education into their daily lesson plans. Through 2007, over 7,200 educators had enthusiastically participated in over 310 WILD workshops throughout Maine. Check out the National Project WILD website at: www.projectwild.org

Project WILD is a set of 100 multidisciplinary wildlife and conservation activities targeted at grades K-12. Project WILD is currently used in all 50 states and internationally, and is sponsored by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Activity guides are available upon completion of a 6-hour teacher workshop, which is full of hands-on activity participation, background information on Maine wildlife, with a variety of handouts, posters and prizes.

WILD K-12 activities are organized around a conceptual framework addressing these major themes:

Awareness and appreciation of wildlife
Human values and wildlife
Wildlife and ecological systems
Cultural/social interaction with wildlife
Wildlife issues and trends
Alternatives and consequences
Wildlife, ecological systems and responsible human actions.

Project WILD is designed to prepare young people for decisions affecting people, wildlife and their shared home - earth.

Project WILD Goal: 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.

Project WILD activities are correlated to the original Maine Learning Results in math, science, language arts, social studies and visual/performing arts and are available at: www.maine.gov/ifw/education/wildlinks.htm or to participating workshop teachers in CD format.

Project WILD activity guides are available to classroom teachers, outdoor educators and youth leaders only after completing a six-hour teacher workshop.

Peoject WILD Aquatic Logo

Project WILD Aquatic

Project WILD Aquatic is a set of 40 multidisciplinary wildlife and conservation activities targeted at grades K-12, and focusing on aquatic habitats and wildlife. Hands-on activities take a closer look at whales, wetlands, turtles, salmon, invertebrates, marine/freshwater environments and more! A program currently used in all 50 states and internationally, Project WILD in Maine is sponsored by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Activity guides will be available upon full comopletion of the workshop session, which is full of active participation, background information on Maine wildlife, and a variety of handouts, posters and prizes.

Is Project WILD Aquatic for you?

Do you want an introduction to wetlands, Atlantic salmon, whales, turtles, water cycles, and more?
Are you personally interested in the wildlife that lives in freshwater and ocean habitats?
Do you need activities relating to water and wildlife?

Then Project WILD Aquatic is for you!

Growing Up WILD

Growing Up WILD is a resource that will be invaluable for early childhood professionals. With growing recognition of the need for young children to spend time outdoors, this guide provides practical suggestions for planning activities that are developmentally appropriate and includes all educational domains. Developed with the vision of changing the culture of early childhood education to embrace learning in the outdoors, Growing Up WILD is the first nationally distributed early childhood professional development program and activity guide that integrates environmental education into the early childhood curriculum.

The layout of the guide is very appealing, with colorful graphics and well-organized information. References to NAEYC Accreditation, Head Start domains and developmentally appropriate practices provide an important link for professionals in quality early childhood programs.

The activity guide Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children is an award winning publication, recognized for its contribution in the effort to connect young children to nature. Growing Up WILD’s network has grown to include 39 state sponsors and 23 training partners who are collectively reaching out to early childhood educators representing private child care organizations, Head Start, preschools, Montessori schools, home childcare providers, after-school leaders, and non-formal environmental education centers. http://www.projectwild.org/growingupwild

Flying WILD

Flying WILD's focus on migratory birds is designed to inspire young people to discover more about the natural world. It encourages higher elementary and middle school students to get involved in activities that promote environmental learning and stewardship.

The Flying WILD program encourages the integration of bird education and conservation activities into the school curriculum in an engaging, successful, and academically purposeful manner. In addition to Flying WILD: An Educator's Guide to Celebrating Birds, Flying WILD offers training for educators to implement the program in their schools, helping teachers, students, school administrators and community organizations to tap into the services and resources provided by the network of bird experts, bird organizations, and environmental professionals assisting with the Flying WILD initiative.

A Flying WILD School Bird Festival allows young people to come together with conservation experts, local businesses, and community organizations to learn and teach about birds. Students lead hands-on activities, create educational exhibits, host art displays, and stage performances-learning activities designed to run smoothly in a festival setting.
http://www.flyingwild.org/index.htm

Flying WILD Bird Trunk

Flying WILD, a program of the Council for Environmental Education, introduces students to bird conservation through standards-based classroom activities and environmental stewardship projects. Flying WILD encourages schools to work closely with conservation organizations, community groups, and businesses involved with birds to implement school bird festivals and bird conservation projects.

WILD School Sites

What can we do for wildlife?

What can we do to improve our environment?

How can we create a place for learning where our actions benefit wildlife?

Guide your students to take responsible action and improve their communities for people and wildlife, beginning on the school grounds.
Inventory your site for plants and wildlife.
Review your mapping skills.
Create detailed maps of the different components of your school site.
Plan successful wildlife habitat enhancement projects that complement integrated learning for all grade levels.

A wildlife tracking plot, a tree plantation, a groundwater monitoring station, a butterfly garden, a weather center, an archeological plot, a plant nursery or arboretum, nesting boxes and more!

Project WILD is outstanding teacher workshops. 99% of participants report that Basic, Aquatic and School Site workshops are either excellent or good.

WILD LINKS: Activity correlations to Maine Learning Results in math, science, language arts, social studies and visual/performing arts are available. Visit the web site for the links to over 140 Project WILD activities.

WILD LINKS was developed by Maine classroom teacher consultants in partnership with the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance, and funded by an Outdoor Heritage Grant. Look for TREE LINKS (Project Learning Tree) and WET LINKS (Project WET) in book form.

Project WILD

Please Note: Project WILD Basic, Aquatic, Wild School Sites, Growing Up WILD, and Flying WILD Teacher Workshop fees are $25 per person.

include background information about Maine's wildlife and natural resources,
provide hands-on WILD experience with activities that address every subject and skill area, and
assist participants with integration of WILD activities into their curriculums.

WILD workshops are conducted on a statewide basis by trained volunteer facilitators. Workshops are scheduled year round at a variety of locations.

A workshop can be scheduled for an entire school district, an individual school, as a part of college methods courses, at conferences; on in-service days, professional days, early-release days, weekends or during vacations.

WILD workshops are designed so teachers become familiar with the activities and their multidisciplinary use in the classroom.

Teachers actively participate in a wide array of WILD activities
learn of other Maine conservation education resources
receive current wildlife information and teaching updates
learn how Project WILD is linked to the Maine State Learning Results

For more information, contact: Lisa Kane, Project WILD Coordinator Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 284 State St. 41 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 (207) 557-0118 or email Lisa Kane. For more information on a National level please visit www.projectwild.org.

Teachers say that Project WILD is:

Easy to use.
Adaptable to various time frames, activity sites, and subject areas,
Fun and exciting.
Easily integrated with other subjects.
Full of activities that can be done in class, the schoolyard, nearby parks, or on field trips.
Highly adaptable to different grade levels, student populations and learning styles.
Active learning for all students.
A catalyst for other initiatives and extension activities.
Responsible action.
Students start to see that care and responsibility have meaning.
Wildlife information is presented in layman's language, and is not overwhelming.
Untrained science teachers immediately receive usable information, skills, and activities.
Teachers enjoy using Project WILD, finding the wildlife and conservation information stimulating to them as adults and enthusiastically received by their students.
Teachers give high praise to Project WILD's 'learning by doing' orientation to workshops and report reaching all students at all ability levels with Project WILD.

Get involved! Experience the activities! Practice teach! Take home new ideas and resources you can use immediately!

Upcoming Project WILD Workshops

Growing Up WILD

Growing Up Wild is an early childhood education program that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature, and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them.

WORKSHOP LEADER: Joanne Alex, Education Director,
Stillwater Montessori School, Old Town; 1998 Teacher of the Year

WHEN: Saturday, April 21, 2012

TIME: 9am - 1:00pm:

WHERE: Katahdin Hall,
Eastern Maine Community College, Bangor

FEE: $25 PP; snacks provided

TO PRE-REGISTER and PREPAY; or FMI:
Please contact Joanne Alex @ 827-2404 or joannedalex@gmail.com

DEADLINE DATE: for registration: Friday, April 14, 2012.
Please dress for the weather and be prepared to go outside.

This is a part of a Curriculum II college class. It has a science focus and satisfies the requirement for the 081 certificate- Teaching Young Children in Science. FMI about the entire class, please contact Connie Ronco, Instructor, at cronco@emcc.edu

Flying Wild Workshop

PRESENTER: Lisa Kane, MDIFW

WHEN: Friday, April 27, 2012

TIME: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

WHERE: Viles Arboretum, 153 Hospital Street, Augusta, Maine 04330 www.vilesarboretum.org

FEE: FREE! Thanks to a generous grant from the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund; normally a $25 value

TO REGISTER: Call Mark P. DesMeules at 626-7989 or email: mark.desmeules@vilesarboretum.org

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: Monday, April 23, 2012

LUNCH: FREE! Coffee and snacks also provided.

Each participating educator receives a copy of Flying WILD: An Educator's Guide to Celebrating Birds; and a certificate indicating 6-hours of professional development training upon completion of the workshop.

Project WILD BASIC

Including a live wildlife presentation from
THE CENTER FOR WILDLIFE

WORKSHOP LEADERS:
Linda Woodard and staff from the Center For Wildlife

DATE: Friday, April 27, 2012

TIME: 9AM-3PM

PLACE: Mount Agamenticus Learning Lodge - located on a mountaintop 10,000 acres of conservation land in South Berwick http://agamenticus.org/

DIRECTIONS:

FROM YORK: Route 1 northbound. Flo's Hot Dogs will be on your right. Turn left on Mountain Road. Travel 1.5 miles to stop sign. Turn right and travel 2.7 miles to SUMMIT ROAD located on your right. Summit Road is the Mount Agamenticus access road and will take you to the lodge

FROM OGUNQUIT: From Ogunquit center, travel south approximately 3.8 miles on US Route 1. Flo's Hot Dogs will be on your left. Turn right onto Mountain Road. Travel 1.5 miles to stop sign. Turn right and travel 2.7 miles to SUMMIT ROAD located on your right. Summit Road is the Mount Agamenticus access road and will take you to the lodge

FEE: $25 PP
Please bring your lunch & beverage, dress for the weather and be prepared to go outside.

TO REGISTER AND PREPAY:
contact Linda Woodard @ 207-415-8331 or e-mail linda@lindawoodard.net

Held in conjunction with the Center for Wildlife: http://www.yorkcenterforwildlife.org/

Participants in this workshop will receive the PROJECT WILD BASIC wildlife and conservation education activity guide, plus a variety of wildlife oriented posters, prizes and publications.

***In addition, the Center for Wildlife educators and live animal ambassadors will do a demonstration of their classroom outreach programs, introducing natural history, current challenges and stewardship for local raptors, reptiles and mammals. CFW will also share tips on introducing the concepts of adaptations, conservation, and basic ecology to audiences of all ages. CFW programs can be booked, for a fee, at your school!

OPTIONAL: Participants will be able to tour the nearby CFW after the workshop.

Project WILD AQUATIC Workshop

WHEN: FRIDAY, May 4, 2012

TIME: 10:00AM - 1:00PM

WHERE: MAINE STATE AQUARIUM
194 McKown Pt. Rd. W. Boothbay Harbor
Optional DMR Wetlab & Aquarium Tour from 1-2pm, included in workshop fee!
Hands-on, K-12 multidisciplinary wildlife/conservation activities focusing on
aquatic wildlife and their habitats

Learn about wetlands, aquatic invertebrates, Atlantic salmon, whales and more!
Receive the 40 + activity guide, plus a variety of posters, handouts and prizes.

TO REGISTER: please contact Casey Schott at: Casey.d.Schott@maine.gov
or call 633-9674 with your name, address, phone number, and email

DIRECTIONS: www.maine.gov/dmr/directions/directions.html

DEADLINE for registration is Friday April 27th @ 5pm.
FEE: $25 teachers; $15 college students
Bring your lunch and beverage; please dress for the weather!!

WHEN: Saturday, May 19, 2012

TIME: 9am - 1:00pm:

WHERE: Cathance Children's Center, 1201 Main Str., Bowdoin
www.cathance.com/children

FEE: $35 PP; snacks provided

TO PRE-REGISTER and PREPAY; or FMI:
Pam Soucy, Child Care Options, 337 Maine Avenue, Farmingdale, ME 04344
(207) 582-3110 xt.25 or email: training@skcdc.org

DEADLINE DATE: for registration: Friday, May 11, 2012.
Please dress for the weather and be prepared to go outside.

WHEN: Saturday, June 16, 2012

TIME: 9am - 1:00pm:

WHERE: Waterville Educare, 56 Drummond Ave. www.educarecentralmaine.org

FEE: $35 PP; snacks provided

TO PRE-REGISTER and PREPAY; or FMI:
Pam Soucy, Child Care Options, 337 Maine Avenue, Farmingdale, ME 04344
(207) 582-3110 xt.25 or email: training@skcdc.org

DEADLINE DATE: for registration: Friday, June 8, 2012.
Please dress for the weather and be prepared to go outside.

PROJECT WILD AQUATIC ON SWAN ISLAND
KENNEBEC RIVER, RICHMOND

WHEN: Wednesday, June 20, 2012

WHERE: Swan Island, Kennebec River, corner of Routes 197/24; 5 miles east off Exit 43

TIME: Must meet @ 9am sharp for ferry ride across river; then truck ride to camp ground and workshop site; workshop will run from 10am-1pm; truck tour of rest of island from 1-2:30; 2:30 departures will begin

TO PREREGISTER: Contact Lisa Kane, workshop leader, @ Lisa.Kane@maine.gov FMI and to sign up

FEE: $25 pp
Participants will receive the Project WILD Aquatic Activity Guide, plus a variety of Maine wildlife – specific posters, handouts and publications

DEADLINE DATE: Registrations must be received by Friday June 15; minimum of 15 registered needed to run this workshop; maximum 25

This is a great way to learn about aquatic habitats and see spectacular Swan Island, a wildlife management area, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a campground, bald eagle nesting site and much much more. Swan Island is also a destination for many school wildlife and conservation education field trips.

A certificate of 6 contact hours of professional development will be provided.

Visit www.maine.gov/swanisland FMI; and check out our Facebook page!

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION