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Curriculum and Activity Guides
On this page:
- What is Project Wild?
- Why Project Wild?
- Who can use it?
- Which Project Wild Guide(s) is right for you?
- Want to learn more?
- Ready to Get Started? Attend a Project Wild Workshop
What is Project Wild?
Project Wild is a series of activity guides that can be used as part of any class instruction, designed for pre-K through 12th grade. The guides that are part of the Maine Project Wild suite are Project Wild (terrestrial) guide, Aquatic Wild, and Growing Up Wild. All of Project Wild is facilitated nationally by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and coordinated by an agency or organization in each state. It is the mission of Project Wild to provide wildlife-based conservation and environmental education that fosters responsible actions toward wildlife and related natural resources. Each of the individual guides has their own focus, but all are designed with hands-on, inquisitive, student lead learning in mind, and are aligned with education standards.
Project Wild activities are designed 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.
To learn more visit www.fishwildlife.org/projectwild
Below Zero
In addition to offering Project Wild in the state, we also have Below Zero. It is a winter companion to Project Wild that is put together by the Canadian Wildlife Federation. This interdisciplinary program provides a wide array of information and activities that can be used both indoors and outdoors. This guide is focused on winter adaptations and ecology and suitable for ages K-12 learning. Below Zero is designed to inspire a nature connection in winter and encourage outdoor play.
To learn more visit: Below Zero online
Why Project Wild?
In this ever-growing world and changing climate we are all faced with decisions and information about how humans affect wildlife and wild places. As educators we feel a need to help our students be a part of and understand the world they live in. Project Wild provides activities to help develop critical thinking skills as well as gain knowledge about wildlife and habitats, and to help make wise decisions that affect the life and use of our natural resources. In Project Wild learning is done through hands-on activities, projects, and games. It is a great way to learn about local wildlife.
Each of the guides helps incorporate wildlife and ecological concepts into any class curriculum, and each activity is designed to/with
- Provide hands-on, interdisciplinary activities
- Support learning in formal & non-formal educational settings
- Align with learning standards
- Scientifically accurate materials
- Provide an emphasis on outdoor learning and field investigations
- Service-learning opportunities
- Conservation career and occupation connections
- STEM applications
- Educator training workshop applications
Who can use it?
Anyone can use Project Wild guides, and there are several guides to choose from - Project Wild, Aquatic Wild, and Growing Up Wild.
Teachers, parents, scout leaders, and other organizations and community groups will find that these activity guides are useful and easy to use. Activities are aligned with education standards (NGSS, Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, CCSS, and some scout badges). There are also suggested community science uses as well as connections to climate change education.
Learn more about Project Wild resources
Which Project Wild Guide(s) is right for you?
There are several types of activity guides in the Project Wild suite, and here are the three that Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife currently offer trainings on through our partner organizations and volunteer facilitators.
Project Wild K-12 Curriculum and Activity Guide is a wildlife education program focused on terrestrial wildlife, habitat, and ecological concepts. Contains over 100 activities fostering learning about and responsible action towards wildlife and natural resources.
Learn more about Project Wild
(only available through a workshop)
Aquatic Wild K-12 Curriculum and Activity Guide is a wildlife education program focused on aquatic and wetland wildlife, habitats, and ecological concepts. Contains over 50 activities with an emphasize on gaining knowledge about and responsible action towards aquatic wildlife and water resources.
Learn more about Aquatic Wild
(only available through a workshop)
Growing Up Wild: Exploring Nature with Young Children is an early childhood education program that builds on a child’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. There are over 20 activities that are specifically designed for children ages 3-7. These lessons can be used in pre-schools, child development centers, and kindergarten classrooms.
Learn more about Growing Up Wild
(available through training workshops or purchase online)
Want to learn more?
Visit Project Wild’s website to learn more about the different programs and resources available about Project Wild and to purchase materials.
Also check out Project Wild on social media
Social Media
Project WILD maintains the social media pages below, where we post wildlife-related and environmental education resources, articles, photos, and ideas for incorporating WILD activities into our followers’ educational settings. The national office encourages you to send us events or items of interest for us to share!
AFWA staff emails can be found at https://www.fishwildlife.org/contact/afwa-staff-contacts.
General Project WILD inquiries can be directed to projectwild@fishwildlife.org.
To schedule or sign up for a workshop please fill out this Workshop Request Form.
Ready to Get Started? Attend a Project Wild Workshop
Workshops currently offered in Maine are for Project Wild (terrestrial), Aquatic Wild, and Growing Up Wild. Each workshop is led by a trained facilitator and all participants will get to:
- Take a tour of the selected guide(s) and how to use the many features
- Participate in a wide array of WILD activities and discussions.
- Be provided with hands-on WILD experience with interdisciplinary activities
- Lead and organize activities in small groups
- Discuss and receive assistance with integration of activities into their curriculum(s)
- Learn about Maine wildlife species and natural resources as it pertains to the activities
- Go over additional online resources provided by MDIFW and Project Wild
Project Wild and Aquatic Wild are only available through workshops. At a workshop you typically get the book the same day, extra materials, and hands-on training with a certified facilitator. At the completion of the workshop you will also get a certificate that can be used toward your professional development credits.
You can also buy some materials on the Project Wild website and find a selection of online trainings and resources as well. Visit www.projectwild.org
Who teaches training workshops and who can attend?
Wild workshops are conducted on a statewide basis by trained facilitators. Workshops may be scheduled year-round at a variety of locations, such as at nature centers, museums, and libraries.
Teachers, scout leaders, educators, non-formal educators, college students, camp leaders, child care providers, parents, after school providers, homeschoolers, and more are all encouraged to attend a workshop.
Wild workshops are either a half day or full day (9-4) depending on topic and are designed so educators can become familiar with the activities and their multidisciplinary uses. Each workshop usually has a fee for materials and books of around $25-$50 per participant, prices may vary depending on funding and provided resources.
Where to find workshops
Workshops are held through partner organizations such as Center for Wildlife, Viles Arboretum, Fields Pond Audubon Center, and other organizations around Maine that become certified to lead workshops. Interested in becoming a facilitator? Please contact our Maine Project Wild Coordinator.
To stay in the know please sign up for our email list below for educational opportunities. Also check out the MDIFW Educational Programs page for upcoming workshops.
If you have additional questions about Project Wild in Maine please reach out to Maine State Project Wild Coordinator and MDIFW Education and Outreach Supervisor Laura Craver-Rogers at laura.craver-rogers@maine.gov or 207-592-0750.
Also stay in the know and sign up for our educator email list: