PA Game Commission Offers Project WILD Programs for Educators

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Game Commission today announced a series of upcoming professional development opportunities offered as part of the agency's Project WILD program.  Classroom teachers, early childhood teachers, informal educators, homeschool leaders and Scout and youth group leaders are welcome to participate in these workshops.

"Workshop offerings range from endangered species and wildlife forensics to orienteering and habitat-specific programs, such as 'Wild about Wetlands' and 'Watershed Education,'" said Theresa Alberici, who coordinates the program through the Game Commission's Bureau of Information and Education. "In addition to our species-focused workshops on bear, owls and waterfowl, we've added a 'Wild about Turkey' workshop."   

For a complete list of courses being offered, go to the agency's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and click on the "2011 Teacher Workshops" icon in the center of the homepage. The listing includes a two-page summary of the courses being offered from June through August in various parts of the state, followed by information on how to register for each of the courses.

Project WILD is an award-winning, international, hands-on conservation education program. It focuses on wildlife and the environment and how humans interrelate with both. WILD provides educators, primarily kindergarten through 12th grade, with interdisciplinary activities that help address state and national education standards and help educators comply with mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act. WILD's materials are scientifically sound and use educational practices proven to be effective.

WILD's mission is to provide wildlife-based conservation education that fosters responsible action. WILD's goal is to develop the awareness, skills, knowledge and commitment that are necessary for people to make informed decisions and act constructively and responsibly toward wildlife and the environment.

“Educators leave Project WILD workshops 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.  “This year, wildlife agencies nationwide celebrated one million educators ‘Gone WILD.’ More than one million educators have been trained in the program since Project WILD originated in 1983.

"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. The milestone of training one million educators means that, through Project WILD, more than 53 million people worldwide have experience in thinking responsibly about natural resources. Last year alone, state wildlife agencies ordered more than 65,000 guides for distribution to educators across the country, reaching 1.8 million students with information on wildlife conservation."

Alberici works closely with Game Commission Southeast Region Wildlife Education Specialist Dan Lynch and Southwest Region Wildlife Education Supervisor Joe Stefko, as well as the Pennsylvania Department of Education and prominent conservation and environmental education organizations throughout the state and the country.

Note to Editors: If you would like to receive Game Commission news releases via e-mail, please send a note with your name, address, telephone number and the name of the organization you represent to: [email protected].

SOURCE Pennsylvania Game Commission