Grizzly Bears, Wolves, ISATs, Oh My! IDFG To Host Workshop For Teachers

IDAHO FALLS - When most people think about the Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDFG), hunting and fishing are usually the first things that come to mind, but to Idaho teachers IDFG is also responsible for conducting a series of quality workshops that have reached well over 10,000 teachers in Idaho. These workshops train teachers to use wildlife and the outdoors as a vehicle to reach students about every conceivable academic discipline possible. This year, IDFG has been working to make Project WILD a tool for teachers preparing their students for the new science component of the Idaho Standards Achievement Tests (ISATS). The only Project WILD basic workshop to be held in the Upper Snake Region this year will be taking place in Idaho Falls on September 30 & October 1. IDFG staff and Idaho teachers were involved at the ground level when Project WILD was created as a joint project of the Council for Environmental Education (CEE) and the Western Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) over a decade ago. Many of the activities that have reached over 600,000 teachers nationwide have a strong connection to Idaho wildlife. These teachers have in turn reached nearly 39 million youth in mainly America, but also a growing number of other countries. Idaho is also the only state in the nation to develop weeklong extensions to the basic Project WILD workshop. This year a 3-credit summer course was held at Harriman State Park in Island Park, Idaho. According to Regional Wildlife Conservation Educator Gregg Losinski of Idaho Falls, "To date these extended have reached over 1,000 Idaho educators. Locally, our course called WILD In the Yellowstone Ecosystem is in its fifth year." While Project WILD was developed for educators working with students of all ages, in recent years it has gained popularity with home schooling parents, as well as scout and church youth group leaders. In the past the workshop was free; only a credit fee was collected for individuals seeking to obtain graduate credit from one of Idaho's institutions of higher learning. Because of tight budgets the workshops now have a $20 materials fee, in addition to credit costs. Because workshop space is limited, registration is required. To receive a registration packet contact Regional Wildlife Conservation Educator Gregg Losinski at idfg-glosinski@idfg.idaho.gov or call 208-525-7290.