Apply Now for Grants to Develop WILD School Sites
dnrOhio teachers who have successfully used Project WILD in their classrooms can now provide students with additional hands-on learning about wildlife and habitat through grants from the 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. For the first time, grants will be available the entire school year, Sept. 1 through May 31.
• 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 campuses.
• A WILD School Site project allows teachers to take lesson plans outdoors, bringing conservation education concepts to life for students. An added benefit is the improvement of schoolyard habitat for wildlife and people, which enhances outdoor learning experiences.
• The grants are awarded to applicants who 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 from the sale of Ohio hunting and fishing licenses.
• Interested educators should submit an application between Sept. 1 and 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 wildohio.gov. To learn more about Project WILD or to find an area workshop, go to wildohio.gov or call 1-800-WILDLIFE (1-800-945-3543).
• Contact Jen Dennison (614-265-6316) for more information.
