09/11/2005
Education is Key for Future of Conservation
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EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The country's wildlife and natural resources lies in the small hands of future conservationists and there's not a better time to help students learn the value of conservation than early in the school year. Knowing this, the National Wild Turkey Federation came up with ways to help teachers share the importance of conservation with their students.
From the Wild About Turkey Education Box to activity kits, the NWTF's education outreach program provides learning tools for students of all ages.
"Our Wild About Turkey Education Box curriculum meets national standards for math, science and English courses for students from Kindergarten through seniors in high school," said Christine Rolka, NWTF education supervisor. "It's a great tool for teachers who wish to further conservation efforts by teaching the importance of our natural resources."
This "out-of-the-box" idea is helping more and more young people learn about the wild turkey — one of the greatest wildlife conservation success stories of all time — through a one-of-a-kind educational tool. The NWTF has brought the conservation message to more than 2.1 million students across America through the Wild About Turkey Education Box.
Inside the box, educators will find these useful tools:
Colorful bulletin board display.
Wild turkey history, communication and habitat videos.
Multimedia CD/CD-Rom with turkey sounds, NWTF Wildlife Bulletins, activities and much more.
Wild turkey poster.
Making Tracks poster.
K-12 multi-curriculum lesson plans - including math, science, history, English, creative writing, technology/design and art.
The above items are contained in a trap and transfer box similar to the ones wildlife biologists use to transfer turkeys.
Classroom supply of rulers, pencils and bookmarks.
"Other than the teaching of conservation, one of the most positive aspects about the education box is that most are donated through local NWTF chapters at no charge to the teachers," said Tiffany Wild, the NWTF's 2005 Educator of the Year. "They are also distributed through conservation education training workshops for teachers. The workshops are a great way for educators to learn state-specific information regarding conservation efforts."
Each year, the NWTF's Conservation Educator of the Year Award program recognizes outstanding teachers who demonstrate innovative teaching techniques using the Wild About Turkey Education Box and who are committed to conservation education. The Educator of the Year receives recognition at the NWTF's National Convention and Sports Show, as well as grant money to fund conservation education projects in their classroom.
With the rising costs of school supplies and budget restraints on education systems across the nation, the education box is a welcomed, and inexpensive, way to teach a valuable lesson.
"With Thanksgiving right around the corner, now is the perfect time to get a Wild About Turkey Education Box," Rolka said. "It's a great way to teach a valuable lesson to students and there's not a bigger symbol of Thanksgiving than the turkey."
The NWTF's outreach to young conservationists, however, doesn't stop there. Each year, the NWTF presents a $10,000 national scholarship, $1,000 state/provincial academic scholarships and $250 local scholarships to graduating high school seniors. To date, the NWTF has awarded more than $1.3 million through its scholarship program and each year $500,000 in scholarship money is available to students through the NWTF.
"Supporting our children's education through our scholarship programs is just one way the NWTF can ensure we have the dedicated conservationists needed for the future," said NWTF's CEO Rob Keck.
