Growing Up WILD Early Learner… Project WILD K-12…Science and Civics 9-12…. Project WILD Aquatic K-12…Advanced Workshops Welcome to Co-sponsored in Michigan by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) and the Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) Copyrighted, printed and supported by the Council for Environmental Education (CEE) WILDLIFE IN LEARNING and DESIGN

Why are we here? To give today’s children a chance to reverse current trends.

Children between the ages of 8 and 18 years spend an average of nearly 6.5 hours a day with electronic media. Rideout, V. and Hamel, E. (2006). The Media Family: Electronic Media in the Lives of Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Their Parent. Kaiser Family Foundation. (Note: Remember this was published in 2006 think of how much bigger Facebook, Iphones and Ipads have become since then)

Children under 13 spend only 30 minutes per week outside in free style play. Louv, R. (2007). Mother Nature: Raising Healthier Kids. (interview with) USA Today.

Children who play outside in natural settings are less likely to suffer obesity an less likely to contract diabetes. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) CDC funds registries for childhood diabetes. Press Release from CDC/ National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion.

Studies have shown that stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces. Even a view of nature helps reduce stress in highly stressed children. Children with these views also demonstrate increased attentional capacity. Wells, N.M. & Evens, G.W. (2003). Nearby nature: A buffer of life stress among rural children. Environment and Behavior (32) 6, pp

Children who have regular opportunities for free/unstructured play in the out- of-doors demonstrate greater levels of creativity, cooperation, conflict resolution and leadership. American Institutes for Research, (2005). Effects of Outdoor Education Programs for Children in Califormia. Submitted to the California Department of Education, Sacramento, CA

Students who play and learn in outdoor settings perform better on tests, have higher grade point averages (GPAs) and cause fewer classroom disruptions. Chawla, L & Escalante, M. Student (2007). Gains from Place-Based Education. University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences.

Project WILD is: An interdisciplinary conservation education program emphasizing wildlife. One of the most wildly- used conservation and environmental education programs. Is based on the premise that young people and educators have a vital interest in learning more about the natural world.

Project WILD is International 47 States (not AZ, HI, IL) Puerto Rico District of Columbia Canada Czechoslovakia India Japan Iceland Sweden

Project WILD’s Mission Provide wildlife-based conservation and environmental education that fosters responsible actions toward wildlife and related natural resources. –Teaches students of all ages HOW to think, NOT what to think!

DNR Mission "The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, accessible use and enjoyment of the State's natural resources for current and future generations."

DNR Goals Revitalizing, Expanding and Diversifying Our User Base Being a Great Place To Work Promoting Stewardship of Michigan’s Natural Resources Through Education, Awareness and Action Restoring, Protecting and Managing Our Natural Resources via Ecosystem Management Providing Quality Public Outdoor Recreation Securing Long-Term Sustainable Financial Support

Project WILD’s Goal Assist learners in developing awareness, knowledge, skills, and commitment to result in informed decisions. –Take students from AWARENESS to ACTION

A brief history of WILD… 1983 Project WILD premieres 1987 Project WILD Aquatic Guide released 1992 Elementary and Secondary Guides updated and combined into one K-12 volume; Aquatic Guide updated 1999 Spanish Supplement of Project WILD Activities and Correlations to National Education Standards 2000 Updates of WILD and Aquatic WILD including 25 new activities and new learning framework released The Project WILD program reaches the one million mark for educators trained since The premier of Growing Up WILD for early childhood educators.

Project WILD is… Interdisciplinary and supplemental Designed for students K-12 Utilizes multiple learning styles Art PE Music ELA Science Math Social Studies

Educational Stages Awareness Knowledge Attitude Skills Participation Solutions

Teaching HOW to think, not WHAT to think! Present facts Maintain Objectivity Provide Guidance Evaluate Choices Make informed decisions

Who Uses Project WILD? Classroom Teachers Preschool/Daycare Educators Museum/Science Center/Nature Center Teachers Youth Organizations Home school University Professors Resource Agency Educators

The Guides Over 100 Project WILD activities 50 WILD Aquatic activities Interactive Multidisciplinary Only available through workshops Includes conceptual framework Cross-referenced Correlated to standards

Three Sections of the K-12 Guides Ecological Knowledge Social and Political Knowledge Sustaining Fish and Wildlife Resources

Organization of Activities Objectives Method Background information Materials Procedures Evaluation suggestions Recommended grade levels Subject areas Duration, group size and setting Key terms

Organization of Activities Objectives Method Background information Materials Procedures Evaluation suggestions Recommended grade levels Subject areas Duration, group size and setting Key terms

Additional Materials New!

Delivery Network for Education Project WILD State Coordinator

Project WILD Contacts Your Facilitator –YOUR NAME –YOUR Michigan Project WILD –Natalie Elkins – National Project WILD –