75th Celebration: 1984 Wild in the Classroom

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has a long tradition of educating Idaho's citizens about our hunting and fishing traditions as well as the wildlife that populate our state. Whether you are a teacher looking to expand your students' knowledge, interested in hunter safety or simply curious about Idaho's wildlife, Fish and Game offers many programs. Most education programs are hands-on. Props such as antlers, hides, skulls, plaster casts of animal tracks, and owl pellets are common. A live snake or bird of prey in the classroom is certain to focus student attention! As students interact with props or live animals, their curiosity comes alive and the questions fly. In 1984, Fish and Game first brought Project WILD to teachers around the state. The program teaches teachers how to integrate wildlife into their classroom lessons. Project WILD maintains that students are fascinated by wildlife and wildlife can help get kids excited about learning. Today, students in classrooms all over Idaho participate in wildlife-related activities to learn about science, social studies, language arts, math and more. Conservation education programs range from visits to a classroom to field trips, working alongside biologists to doing habitat projects. Not only are these students learning about wildlife, they are also learning about potential wildlife-related careers. Some programs also help students learn about Idaho's traditions of hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing. Hunter and angler education may be offered through school lifetime sports programs. Trout in the Classroom students practice their casting skills and go fishing. Students helping at a bird banding station learn about bird watching and wildlife photography. Most importantly, conservation education encourages students to appreciate wildlife and understand Idaho's incredible wildlife heritage. For more on Idaho's Fish and Game's education programs and the 75th Celebration, go online to http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/75th/.