The Pennsylvania Game Commission is not only there for the hunting and trapping community, and it's more than biological research on the state's varied species of wildlife. There's another program that has had and is continuing to have far-reaching effects among school-age students. It's a conservation education program called "Project Wild."
"Project Wild is an international conservation education program with hands-on, interdisciplinary activities about wildlife, people and the environment," Theresa Alberici, the Game Commission's Project Wild coordinator explains.
"The main purpose of the program is to help students explore the wildlife and environment, increase their knowledge about wildlife and ecological concepts and foster informed decision, responsible behavior and constructive action."
This sounds like a mouthful, but simply put Project Wild makes learning fun. It's a tool used by educators to introduce difficult wildlife and environmental concepts to students from preschool through adulthood. The hands-on activities are used not only in schools, but in many youth groups, including 4-H and scouts.
"Project Wild isn't about teaching kids what to think about wildlife; it's about teaching kids how to think about wildlife and giving them the skills they need to become responsibly active citizens who recognize the importance of wildlife and the environment," she said.
In all, there are 120 activities listed in the Project Wild Activity Guide.
"The activities have been designed so educators can easily incorporate them into almost any classroom curricula and nearly any subject -- not just science but also reading, English, social studies, math, civics or art," she notes.
Interested teachers and youth leaders need to complete a six-hour Project Wild workshop for certification. According to Alberici, who has been working with the program since its inception in 1983, participants in the workshops leave with a renewed sense of appreciation for wildlife and excited to share the information with students. In 25 years, more than 26,000 individuals have been certified to use Project Wild activities in Pennsylvania. Nationwide, it has grown to one million. Project Wild curriculum has also been recognized nationwide as the most successful wildlife education program and has been the recipient of numerous awards.
Why is it so successful? "Activities work," she comments emphatically.
One example is an action-packed activity called "Quick Frozen Critters," said to be one of the all-time favorites among students. The activity is a simulation of the predator/prey relationship. "Prey must run from one side of the field to the other to obtain food tokens. Along the way, they can take shelter in designated areas or freeze. Meanwhile, predators are trying their best to tag their prey," she said summarizing the activity.
"From this activity, students are able to describe the predator-prey relationship, understand food chains and describe physical and behavioral adaptations and strategies used by both predators and prey."
"The Thicket Game" brings home the fact that oftentimes wildlife can see us, but we can't see them. While the predator is blindfolded and counts to 20, the prey runs to hide nearby. The rule is that those hiding must be able to see the predator at all times. It's amazing how close the prey can come toward the predator without being discovered. The lesson here is adaptation to the surrounding environment.
There are new developments with the Project Wild program. On the national level, there is a new supplementary guide for preschoolers.
"In Pennsylvania, we are in the final process of a PA supplement," Alberici said. "We also hold advanced workshops that address a particular species, topic and/or issue. Project Wild is more than a guide; it's a conservation education program, and it is relevent right here in Pennsylvania."
Sports
Related Photos
-
Photo provided
-
-
Discussion
Project aims to acquaint students with the outdoors
- Sports
-
-
Shots from the Hip: Fireside blogging
Hotdogs roasting over an open fire, mud squishing between soggy toes ...
-
H.S. softball: A great team by any other name
For the longest time, Warrior Run softball history could be summed up with one name: Laura Harris.
-
H.S. Track & Field notebook: Better late than never
As soon as the Class AA boys javelin throwers were finished Friday morning, Lewisburg’s Brandon Smith left his fellow competitors at the throwing area and took off for Seth Grove Stadium track, trying to hurry while negotiating the heavy foot traffic of fans, coaches and athletes.
-
Keller runs to his first victory
Amazing. That was the simple reply from Cody Keller after capping the long comeback from injury win his first sprint car race Saturday night at Selinsgrove Speedway.
-
Zaktansky: Life lessons learned from an earthworm
On my hands and knees, I slogged forward.
The steady rain had long before soaked through my clothes and turned the ground underneath me into a slick film of runny mud. My back hurt, my fingers were caked with brown goop and my mouth was aching from holding a small flashlight as I slowly scanned the backyard. -
Indigo buntings grace the Valley
Summer is the best time for viewing a spectrum of colorful birds.
Like most bird species, it is the male who exhibits bright coloration. From the orange and black patterns of the northern oriole to the scarlet tanager and yellow warbler and the rose-breasted grosbeak — all make a spectacle of themselves. -
Don Steese column: Counting the days
Memorial Day weekend is traditionally the start of the summer vacation season. Kids are out school, the weather is beautiful and all is well with the world ... except for folks like myself, who find themselves counting the days until fall.
-
Hartley, Billas fight off heat
Melanie Hartley was drained, a puddle of nerves and perspiration after a brutal 400-meter dash. While the official thermometer at Shippensburg University flirted with 90 degrees on Saturday, the heavy dose of humidity had the packed house at Seth Grove Stadium sweltering.
-
Moore bags two medals
Matt Moore is a hard guy to please. Or at least, he finds it hard to take pleasure in his own track and field performances.
-
Ken Maurer column: More talk about bass
This past week I attended 2 meetings involving the PFBC.
The first was in Harrisburg where fish commission officials explained to the state senators why they want the DEP to place the Susquehanna River on the “impaired” list. DEP has refused once, and the PFBC has reapplied. - More Sports Headlines
-
