Wildlife Habitat Council- Corporate Lands for Learning

Web site support provided by:

Wings of Wonder^SM

Butterfly Animated

Wings of Wonder When Learning Takes Flight^SM

Wings of Wonder is a site-based environmental education program developed by and for Corporate Lands for Learning sites. This unique inquiry-based education program explores migratory wildlife, such as birds and butterflies, and can be customized to any WHC member site that provides habitat for birds, monarch butterflies or other migratory wildlife. By studying their local environment, students can connect their local habitat to the global ecosystem and communicate with young scientists at other CLL sites. To participate in the Wings of Wonder program, contact WHC’s Director of Conservation Education and Outreach.

By using corporate wildlife habitats as outdoor learning laboratories, students take part in standards-based activities that make classroom curricula come alive, participating in the real science and conservation efforts happening in their own neighborhoods. This program is an excellent way to integrate an education program into your site’s establishment of bird habitat, wildflower meadows or pollinator gardens. Adopt the Pollinator Friendly Practices Guidelines at your site – download the Guidelines now!

Backyard Conservation provides excellent resources to undertake community-based ecological restoration at homes, schools, businesses and parks. With the emphasis on community, Backyard Conservation provides a vehicle for helping teachers and students of all ages meet and integrate curriculum requirements in areas such as science, math, social studies and language. For information on planting your own meadow, visit the State Resources where you will find native plants, nurseries plus more.

Teacher guides are also available online in the Backyard Lesson Plans section. Team Flight field journals are designed to inspire a sense of stewardship and respect for migratory birds and to empower students to take personal action to conserve their local habitats. The Team Monarch field journals may be used to introduce students to the concepts of butterflies, other pollinators and their meadow habitat.

Objectives of Wings of Wonder

Create educational partnerships between corporate habitat teams and schools;
Demonstrate to the community the importance of "backyard" as well as international conservation;
Enhancement of habitat for monarchs and pollinators at PPG and migratory birds at Bayer, as well as other corporate sites;and
Educate teachers on effective use of outdoor classrooms.

PollinatorLIVE: A Distance Learning Adventure

In the past few years, scientists and citizens all over the world have noticed that pollinator populations are in sharp decline. To combat the loss of this precious resource, many organizations have come together to create awareness and increase suitable habitat. We have learned that teaching and learning about pollinators spreads awareness about where our food comes from, helps us to understand the importance of biodiversity, and helps us to protect habitats in our generation and the ones that will come behind us. Pollinator LIVE, a series of educational events that kicked off in February, provides resources for formal or non-formal educators to enable you to teach in or about your habitat.

Developed by the USDA Forest Service, in partnership with the Prince William County (VA) Public Schools, Partners in Resource Education, National Environmental Education Foundation and others, these programs will appeal to anyone interested in pollinator issues in our environment. Teachers will be interested in the standards-correlated lesson information and tips on how to integrate pollinators into the classroom, and leaders of informal education groups will learn to develop programs that will meet the goals of their learners.

The PollinatorLIVE series of educational events began in February of 2010 and continues through spring of 2011. The first webinar is scheduled for March 24^th, 2010. Aimed toward administrators and teachers, this webinar will cover schoolyard gardens and may be adapted to Corporate Lands for Learning programs for those whose habitat projects include a pollinator garden or meadow. On April 13, a free webinar will be co-hosted by WHC’s own Director of Conservation Education and Outreach Department, featuring the Nature’s Partner’s curriculum developed by the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign.

To access this great opportunity, go online to http://pollinatorlive.pwnet.org/ and learn how to participate via webinars: you can register at http://pollinatorlive.pwnet.org/reg_form.php. Regsitration will allow you to receive updates about upcoming webinars and programs. The partnership encourages anyone who is interested to register.

It's Time to Teach About Pollinators

With pollinator decline currently coming to the forefront of the news, it's time to teach, and learn, more about these interesting creatures. The North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) has a free, national education standards-based curriculum that anyone can use. Click here to find more information about the down-loadable 5th to 8th grade curriculum that supports anyone's efforts in conservation education and outreach.

Painted Lady Butterflies are a very common, very beautiful, representatives of the Lepidoptera family.

Want to create monarch and other pollinator friendly habitat on your site?

Learn more about monarchs and other pollinator friendly habitat practices by visiting the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign website at www.nappc.org or by viewing the Pollinator Friendly Practices guidelines.

Do you already have pollinator friendly habitat on site?

If your site practices exemplary pollinator friendly habitat management practices consider applying for the NAPPC WHC Pollinator Protection Award.