Project Wild Workshop Coming To Idaho Falls!

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 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. Later this spring the only Project WILD basic workshop to be held in the Upper Snake Region this year will be taking place in Idaho Falls. IDFG staff and Idaho teachers were involved on 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 tree quarters of a million teachers nationwide have a strong connection to Idaho wildlife. These teachers have in turn reached over 38 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. These 3-credit summer courses began in McCall, Idaho and have now spread to Clark Fork, Idaho and Island Park, Idaho. To date, they have reached over 1,000 Idaho educators. The course entitled WILD IV or WILD in the Yellowstone Ecosystem that began two summers ago and is based at Harriman State Park is open to any teacher who has completed a basic Project WILD workshop. 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. The actual cost of the workshop is free; a credit fee is only collected for individuals seeking to obtain graduate credit from one of Idaho's institutions of higher learning. Because workshop space is limited, registration is required. The Idaho Falls workshop will take place on Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15. To receive a registration packet contact Regional Wildlife Conservation Educator Gregg Losinski at 208-525-7290 or E-mail him at idfg-glosinski@idfg.state.id.us.