Schools might soon be letting out, but educators and others who work with youth have a chance to continue their learning through wildlife-focused workshops.
Formal educators and nonformal educators such as Scout leaders, afterschool educators and youth-group leaders are welcome to attend these workshops.
Project WILD aims to provide a wildlife-based conservation education that fosters responsible action. It’s one of the most widely used conservation and environmental-education programs among educators, and the activities easily can be incorporated into almost any classroom curriculum.
Theresa Alberici, who coordinates the program in Pennsylvania through the Pennsylvania Game Commission, said Project WILD benefits educators and students alike.
“Educators leave Project WILD with a renewed appreciation of wildlife and are excited about how they’re going to share what they’ve learned with their students,” Alberici said. “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.”
More than 1 million educators have been trained in the program since Project WILD originated in 1983.
Those who are looking for more information on Project WILD workshops offered this year can visit the homepage of the Game Commission’s website.
Following is a listing of scheduled workshops for educators. All workshops are approved for Act 48 hours:
June
-- WILD about Elk (2-day workshop, June 11-12): Participants will work with Game Commission wildlife biologists, wildlife conservation officers, wildlife-habitat managers and wildlife educators to explore elk history, elk biology, habitat management, telemetry and research. This training session includes a field study examining habitat management and several opportunities to view elk, and maybe even their calves. This workshop is designed for upper elementary/middle/high school classroom teachers and non‐formal educators who work with a variety of audiences including students and teachers. It is scheduled to be held Wednesday, June 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday, June 12, from 7 a.m. to noon at the Elk Country Visitor Center, 134 Homestead Drive, Benezette, PA 15821. Lunch and dinner are provided on June 11 and a snack is provided on June 12.There is no cost for the course and educators are offered a $50 stipend to offset cost of lodging and travel. ACT 48 hours are provided. To register, please obtain a registration form and return it to Theresa Alberici at the Game Commission. Forms can be emailed to: talberici@pa.gov, or sent by fax to 717‐772‐0542. Deadline to register is June 5, but it could close sooner if all seats are filled.
-- Pennsylvania Songbirds (1- or 2-day workshop, June 19-20): This is a hands‐on, interdisciplinary resource and activity guide for educators, offered through a joint project of the Game Commission, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Audubon Pennsylvania. This workshop is for K‐12 educators. It is scheduled to be held Thursday, June 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center in Carlisle. Additionally, an optional session is scheduled for Friday, June 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on the border of Lebanon and Lancaster counties. The cost is $20 each day, and includes the PA Songbirds Guide and transportation for the optional field trip to Middle Creek. ACT 48 hours approved. To register, contact Kings Gap at 717‐486‐5031, or send email to: kingsgapsp@pa.gov.
-- Pennsylvania Biodiversity (1-day workshop, June 30): The importance of this seldom-talked-about issue is addressed through the use of resource materials and hands‐on activities. Session participants will investigate the concepts of biodiversity, explore Pennsylvania’s biodiversity at the genetic, species and ecosystem levels, and examine local and global issues relating to biodiversity. Participating teachers will receive the Pennsylvania Biodiversity guide. The workshop is scheduled to be held Monday, June 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Tuscarora Wildlife Education Project, Charles Brightbill Center, Box 97, 4881 Fort Loudon Road, Mercersburg. The activities in this training are designed for upper elementary, middle and high school, however the background information about Pennsylvania’s ecosystem and wildlife provided in this workshop is appropriate for teachers of all grade levels.
The workshop will be held both indoors and outdoors, and those attending the workshop are urged to dress appropriately and to pack a lunch. The cost of the workshop is $10, payable to TWEP. ACT 48 hours provided. To register, please obtain a registration form and return it to Theresa Alberici at the Game Commission. Forms can be emailed to: talberici@pa.gov, or sent by fax to 717‐772‐0542. Those with questions can call 717‐787‐1434 or 717‐328‐2126, or send questions by email to: twepmail@gmail.com. Deadline for registration is June 20.
July
-- WILD about Raptors: Hawks, Harriers, Falcons, Ospreys, Eagles (1-day workshop, July 16): This workshop, for K‐12 educators, will explore the world of Pennsylvania’s diurnal raptors. Resources will include Wildlife Notes for each species and a review of additional materials used and/or available from the Game Commission. Activities for the day are designed to address topics including: adaptation, natural history and current status of species. A significant portion of the day will be a field experience designed to further develop raptor watching and identification. The workshop is scheduled to be held Wednesday, July 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, on the border of Lebanon and Lancaster counties. There is no cost to attend the workshop. Those attending are asked to dress for the indoors and outdoors, bring binoculars if possible, and pack water, snacks and a lunch. Act 48 hours provided. To register, contact Bert Myers at: gimyers@pa.gov, or call 717‐733‐1525. Deadline for registration is June 30.
-- WILD about Mammals (2-day workshop, July 21-22): Designed for teachers at the elementary level, this workshop is designed to enhance the participants’ knowledge about the diverse wild mammals that live in our state. Each day will feature natural history, activities and field experience. The workshop is scheduled to be held on Monday, July 21 and Tuesday July 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. both days. It will be held at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, on the border of Lebanon and Lancaster counties. There is no charge to attend, and those attending are urged to dress for the indoors and outdoors, and pack water and a lunch. Act 48 hours provided. To register, contact Bert Myers at: gimyers@pa.gov, or call 717‐733‐1525. Deadline to register is July 7.
-- WILD about Bears (1-day workshop, July 31): During this workshop, Game Commission personnel, along with workshop participants, will explore the world of the black bear, focusing on natural history, management practices, research and interactions between bears and people. Examine a culvert trap used to trap bears for research or to remove nuisance bears. Explore the habits and habitat of the black bear, and maybe have the chance for a close‐up view. The workshop is scheduled to be held Wednesday, July 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Monroe County Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. There is no charge to attend, and those attending are urged to dress for the indoors and outdoors, and pack water and a lunch. Act 48 hours provided. To register, obtain and complete a registration form and return to Theresa Alberici. Forms can be sent by email to talberici@pa.gov, or faxed to 717‐772‐0542. Deadline to register is July 7, or sooner if all seats for the workshop are filled. Questions can be phoned in to 717‐787‐1434.
August
-- Pennsylvania Biodiversity (1-day workshop, Aug. 12): The importance of this seldom-talked-about issue is addressed through the use of resource materials and hands‐on activities. Session participants will investigate the concepts of biodiversity, explore Pennsylvania’s biodiversity at the genetic, species and ecosystem levels, and examine local and global issues relating to biodiversity. Participating teachers will receive the Pennsylvania Biodiversity guide. The workshop is scheduled to be held Tuesday, Aug. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg. Meet at the Nature Center. The activities in this training are designed for upper elementary, middle and high school, however, the background information about Pennsylvania’s ecosystems and wildlife provided in this workshop is appropriate for teachers of all grade levels. The workshop will be held both indoors and outdoors, and those attending the workshop are urged to dress appropriately and to pack a lunch. The cost of the workshop is $10. ACT 48 hours provided. To register, contact Wildwood Park at 717‐221‐0292. Registration deadline is July 25.
-- Biodiversity on the Susquehanna River (1-day workshop, Aug. 13 ): Join the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Wildwood Park for a canoe trip on the Susquehanna River. Explore the biodiversity of this aquatic ecosystem between Fort Hunter and West Fairview. This trip will include a stop near Wade Island to view Pennsylvania’s largest nesting site for great egrets and black‐crowned night‐herons, both of which are state-endangered species in Pennsylvania. The program also includes discussions of some of the challenges facing plants and animals of the river. The workshop will be held Wednesday, Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The meeting site will be near Fort Hunter Park in Harrisburg, with the exact location being sent to those who register. The cost of the workshop is $10, and those attending are encouraged to pack water, a hat, sunscreen, lunch and binoculars. Act 48 hours provided. To register, contact Wildwood Park at 717‐221‐0292. The deadline to register is July 25, and space is limited.
-- WILD about Reading: Reading to Learn the Content – Wildlife and their Habitats (1-day workshop, Aug. 14): This hands‐on professional-development workshop for teachers of grades 1 through 3, special-education teachers and elementary-reading specialists addresses the Pennsylvania Environment and Ecology and Science Standards, as well as the Science, Technology and Environment and Ecology Assessment Anchors. Participating teachers will receive 15 nonfiction reading books, puppets, and a full-color forest habitat silk mat. They also will receive the Reading to the Content Curriculum Guide and the newly developed national early childhood activity guide from the Game Commission’s “Growing Up Wild” program. In total, each teacher will take back to his/her classroom over $350 worth of materials for students. The workshop is scheduled to be held on Thursday, Aug. 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Wildwood Park Nature Center, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg. There is no cost for the workshop. Those attending are asked to pack a lunch. Snacks are provided. Six Act 48 hours are available upon successful completion of the workshop. To register, please obtain and complete a registration form and return to Theresa Alberici. Forms can be sent by email to talberici@pa.gov, or faxed to 717‐772‐0542. The deadline to register is Aug. 1. Questions can be phoned in to 717‐787‐1434.
-- WILD About Waterfowl (1-day workshop, Aug. 19): This workshop will help educators of grades 5 through 12 learn about waterfowl species and the importance of their wetland habitats. Topics include human impacts on waterfowl and migration habits of waterfowl within the Atlantic Flyway. Field activities include observation of duck banding (conditions permitting), waterfowl identification and a guided field experience. The workshop is scheduled to be held Tuesday, Aug. 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, on the border of Lebanon and Lancaster counties. There is no cost to attend. ACT 48 hours provided. To register, contact Bert Myers at: gimyers@pa.gov, or 717‐733‐1512. Registration deadline is July 30.
