Grants Available to Develop “WILD School Sites” in Ohio
OutdoorHub 05.14.12
Ohio teachers who have successfully used Project WILD in their classrooms now have the opportunity to provide students with additional hands-on learning tools about wildlife and habitat through grants being offered through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife.
Grants totaling $500 each will be awarded on a competitive basis to 40 schools currently participating in Project WILD, a supplemental environmental education curriculum for grades K-12.
Project WILD uses wildlife and wildlife management techniques to teach traditional school subjects such as math, science, and language arts. Now in its ninth year, the grant program provides teachers with funding to purchase the materials, equipment, and activities needed to develop “WILD School Sites” on their school sites.
“A WILD School Site project allows teachers to take lesson plans outdoors, bringing conservation education concepts to life for students,” said Jen Dennison, wildlife education coordinator for the Division of Wildlife. “An added benefit is the improvement of schoolyard habitat for wildlife and people, which enhances outdoor learning experiences.”
The grants are awarded to applicants that best meet the WILD School Site criteria. Criteria includes participation in one of Ohio’s Project WILD programs, direct improvement of the habitat on the school grounds, involvement of the students in the projects as much as possible, and correlation of the projects to the school’s curriculum.
Funding for the WILD School Site grant program comes directly from the sale of Ohio hunting and fishing licenses.
Interested educators should submit an application by May 31 to the ODNR Division of Wildlife, Outdoor Education Section, 2045 Morse Road, Bldg. G, Columbus, OH 43229. Complete details of the grant program and an application packet can be found at ohioprojectwild.com. To learn more about Project WILD or to find an area workshop, go to ohioprojectwild.com or call 1-800-WILDLIFE.
