The National Wildlife Federation Seeks Schools to Participate in Schoolyard Habitat Program
October 17, 2014
Jefferson City, MO | October 15, 2014 – The National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) Schoolyard Habitat™ Program and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service want to create 24 demonstration schoolyard habitats near national wildlife refuges. The program’s objectives are to replicate, on a much smaller scale, the habitats found on national wildlife refuges, while creating outdoor classrooms that students and educators can build, maintain and access throughout the year. The schoolyard habitats will feature some of the same plants and animals living on nearby wildlife refuges and other natural areas. We are also looking for schools to provide habitats supporting broader U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service habitat management goals, such as installing pollinator gardens, migratory bird habitats and phenology demonstration areas.
Schoolyard habitats provide food, water and shelter for native plant and animal species, are highly effective tools for teaching young people about natural science and help connect students to nature. In some cases new habitats will be created. In others, schools with existing habitats could be modified to align them with the plant communities found on local national wildlife refuges or support other wildlife conservation goals of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Participating schools will receive a grant of $2,500 to plan and establish or modify habitat at their school. The goal of the program is to encourage wildlife refuge employees to work closely with each participating school in the development and/or enhancement of their site. NWF will also provide support through its Eco-schools USA and Schoolyard Habitat™ programs.
For more information or to apply your school for the program, or to find the forms necessary to apply, please open this flyer!
To learn more about the Conservation Federation of Missouri, visit www.confedmo.org.