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Corporate land managers, educators and students were brought together for two days of a fun and unique educational experience at the Wildlife Habitat Council’s 2008 Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) Education and Outreach Workshop. BP’s Cooper River Plant, in Wando, South Carolina, hosted the 2008 Workshop as part of its two-day Signature of Sustainability celebration on March 14-15. The site maintains WHC certified Wildlife at Work and CLL programs and is a past winner of the prestigious Corporate Habitat of the Year and Corporate Lands for Learning of the Year awards.

A tufted titmouse sits on a branch. Photo (c) Charles H. Warren, National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII), Digital Image Library.

On March 15, WHC members looking to create CLL programming at their sites and local teachers participated in an all-day professional development experience. Attendees were trained in Flying WILD, the latest educational program from the creators of Project WILD, the Council for Environmental Edcuation. Flying WILD enables middle school age students and community members to learn about migratory bird species and encourages them to hold “bird festivals” to share their knowledge with others—and to celebrate the wonder of their discoveries. The informative and fun programs allow each festival to feature student and volunteer-led activities, along with experts from the local conservation community.

In addition to Flying WILD training, the group enjoyed a “Wood Duck Nest Box Tour” led by Ernie Nelson, habitat manager at BP Cooper River. He outlined the habitat at Cooper River facility, illustrated common tools and methods used to manage for this species, and led participants on trails throughout the site’s wildlife habitat area. Highlights of this tour included an up close look at wood duck eggs, and a view into local history. The group was shown old, abandoned brick kilns, used in the plantation era that still exist on the site.

On the day before, BP Cooper River hosted an event for 70 local school children in honor of their recognition as a WHC Signature of Sustainability. The students visited three stations for bird related fun. At the first station, “Build a Bluebird Box,” BP employees worked with students to build and decorate bluebird nest boxes for the students to take home. For the second station, the Charleston Audubon Society led students on a nature walk. The students learned to use binoculars and observed vultures, a rat snake and even bees. The third station was presided by WHC education staff, which led the students in Bird Olympics and Fill the Bill, lessons from Flying WILD’s curriculum. Kids and adults alike also enjoyed lunch and a “feather raising” presentation from the Center for Birds of Prey, based in Charleston, South Carolina.

Participants left their two day experience at Cooper River excited about the potential of Flying WILD for showcasing student research, promoting cooperation between schools and local companies, and using their own wildlife habitats as outdoor learning laboratories.

The employees, volunteers and partners at BASF Corporation’s Fighting Island received international recognition for their contributions to wildlife habitat conservation at the Wildlife Habitat Council’s 19th Annual Symposium, The Value of Green by winning WHC’s prestigious Corporate Lands for Learning of the Year award, which recognizes a site for outstanding environmental education, stewardship and voluntary efforts. This is the second time BASF has been honored with this award, having previously won it in 2005.

A hummingbird feeds on nector at BASF Corporation's Fighting Island. The site, located offshore from LaSalle, Ontario, Canada, in the Detroit River. The 1,200-acre revitalized island offers a lush, natural outdoor laboratory for students and community members to study the natural environment.

Habitat projects on the 1,200-acre Fighting Island site benefit wildlife and increase environmental awareness among employees, community members, students and government agencies through implementation of a cohesive, long-term wildlife management plan.

The Corporate Lands for Learning program at Fighting Island uses a revitalized island habitat as an outdoor laboratory to study the environment and the environmental impacts of humans, including efforts to enhance and improve our environment. The dedicated site team, with the help of a cadre of local teachers and administrators, produced distinct standards-based curricula for students in grades seven and eight and for high school students.

In addition, an integral volunteer, Donald Fay, a teacher consultant for the Greater Essex County District School Board, was presented with the 2007 Community Partner of the Year. Mr. Fay was nominated for the Community Partner of the Year award by the Greater Essex County District School Board for his work with Fighting Island CLL program. The award goes to one organization or individual for making a significant contribution and lasting impact on a corporate site’s wildlife habitat enhancement programs through hands-on environmental awareness and enhancement activities.

Mr. Fay, a respected teacher for more than 30 years, led a team of teachers to develop a site-based curriculum for the island that is tightly linked to provincial education requirements and standards. The curriculum, first piloted in 2004, has allowed more than 6,000 students to participate in hands-on environmental study that is linked to classroom learning. Recognized as a master teacher in his district and throughout the province of Ontario, Mr. Fay earned the respect and admiration of those in industry as well as education. His commitment to professional development allowed the Fighting Island CLL program to grow significantly and gain long-term quality and academic integrity.

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