EDUCATION INDEX | LEARN TO FISH | PROJECT WET | PROJECT WILD

Project WILD is one of the most widely-used conservation and environmental education programs among educators of students in Pre-kindergarten through high school. It is based on the premise that young people and educators have a vital interest in learning about our natural world. Emphasizing wildlife because of its intrinsic value, Project WILD addresses the need for human beings to develop as responsible citizens of our planet.

For more details on the development and organization of Project WILD at the international level, visit www.projectwild.org.

• What is a Project WILD Workshop in Indiana?

  Project WILD explores an individual’s understanding of wildlife and ecosystem sustainability to provide informed decisions to use natural resources wisely. In Indiana, we focus our training to our native wildlife and educator’s needs. Project WILD curriculum and activity guides:

  • Are easy to use
  • Work indoors or outdoors
  • Correlate with Common Core Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and Indiana State Standards
  • Develop students’ conceptual skills such as analysis, classification, description, estimation, evaluation, inference, hypothesis formation, and problem solving
• Why attend a workshop?

  Our workshops are designed for educators in both formal and non-formal settings. During the workshop, participants engage through professional development. Contact hours gained during a workshop are eligible for teachers to apply towards their Professional Growth Plan (PGP). The framework of this workshop is to provide educators with:

  • An unbiased approach to basic water resource management practices
  • Hands-on curriculum and an activity guide
  • Interdisciplinary lessons
  • Scientific information
  • Techniques and methods to teaching problem solving and decision-making skills
• Who can use Project WILD?
  • General Classroom teachers – Pre-K - 12; all subjects
  • Specialist Teachers – GT, Special Ed, ELL (check with your district about specialist credit)
  • Educators in non-formal settings – nature centers, museums, zoos, parks
  • Children/youth leaders – scouts, camps, youth groups
• What are the Project WILD Curriculum & Activity Guides?
  • Project WILD K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide: contains 81 activities concentrating on terrestrial wildlife, habitat, and ecological concepts.

    Workshop Information:

    • 6-hour minimum
    • $25/person workshop fee*
    • Project WILD Sample Activity
       
  • Aquatic WILD K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide: contains 55 activities emphasizing aquatic wildlife and habitats.

    Workshop Information:

    • 6-hour minimum
    • No Fee* (in support by federal sport fish restoration funds
    • May also be offered in conjunction with Project WET workshops
    • Aquatic WILD Sample Activity
       
  • Flying WILD K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide: contains 43 activities offers field investigation with bird biology, conservation, and natural history.

    Workshop Information:

    • 6-hour minimum
    • $20/person workshop fee*
    • Flying WILD Sample Activity
       
  • Growing Up WILD early childhood (ages 3-7) Curriculum & Activity Guide: contains 27 activities that builds on children's sense of wonder about nature. 

    Workshop Information:

    • 4-hour minimum
    • $20/person workshop fee*        
    • Growing Up WILD Sample Activity

  The guides incorporate wildlife-related concepts into classroom curriculum and each activity is designed to teach one or more of the following concepts:

  • Awareness and appreciation of wildlife
  • Human values and the wildlife resource
  • Habitat and ecological systems
  • Wildlife conservation
  • Cultural and social interaction with wildlife
  • Environmental issues and trends, alternatives and consequences, ecological systems
  • Responsible human actions

  Each guide includes quick-reference indices as well as a glossary of terms.
  
  *note that fees may vary depending on funding or extras included

• What are the education standards?

  Project WILD recognizes that their materials must follow education standards to stay relevant in the classroom. Their curriculum guides follow:

  • Indiana Academic Standards
  • Common Core State Standards for English/Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects
  • National Science Education Standards
  • Next Generation Science Standards
  • North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)’s Guideline for Excellence

  Growing Up WILD (ages 3-7) materials are correlated to:

  • Early Learning, Indiana Academic Standards
  • Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Accreditation
• How was Project WILD developed?
  • Each educator guide follows a conceptual framework that was developed through a rigorous process to ensure its accuracy, balance, and educational validity
  • Written by classroom teachers and other educators, university faculty, resource agency personnel, representatives of private conservation groups and other community representatives
  • Was extensively field tested and evaluated for student achievement. The program continues to be monitored and evaluated with changes made to the materials to respond to educator feedback and incorporate new information
  • Each activity has been kid-tested and teacher-approved
• Who recognizes Project WILD?
  • Indiana DNR, Division of Fish & Wildlife
  • Eligible for Indiana teacher’s Professional Growth Plan (PGP)
  • Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
  • The Wildlife Society: Conservation Education Award
  • The National Environmental Education and Training Foundation in Washington, D.C. (CEE) National Environmental Education Achievement award for leadership in conservation education
  • Endorsed by the National Council for the Social Studies
  • Consistent with recommendations of the National Science Teachers Association
• Where can you find a workshop?

  Educators can register for upcoming workshops on our DNR calendar. If there is not an upcoming workshop or if you would like one tailored to your education needs, we can arranged a workshop for you! Contact us with a minimum of 15 or more people that would attend a workshops and we can organize a training in a location and on a date at your convenience.

• School and Group Programs

  Indiana State Parks provide educational programs on-site and off-site. Each program is designed for students and groups to learn more about native wildlife in Indiana. To learn more, visit State Parks School and Group Program website. 

• Additional Resources
  • Project WILD Foundation
  • Project WILD workshop description flyer
  • National Project WILD: short version (4 minutes)
  • National Project WILD: full length video (8 minutes)
  • DNR Wildlife Activity Loaner Trunks 
  • Indiana Project WET
  • Indiana Project Learning Tree
  • Explore other outdoor programs with DFW
  • School and Group Programs 

Indiana Project WILD Contact

For questions about Indiana Project WILD, contact Rachel Woodworth, Indiana’s Project WILD State Coordinator.

Rachel Woodworth
Education Outreach Specialist
State Coordinator for Project WILD & Project WET
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Division of Fish & Wildlife
402 W. Washington Street, Room W273
Indianapolis, IN 46204
RWoodworth@dnr.IN.gov
Phone: 317-233-7417