Excerpts from a Diary of a WILD teacher

"Hands-on" fish activity at a typical workshop.

The experiences in these IDFG classes have renewed my passion for teaching this year. I can hardly wait!

Basic WILD - February 11 and 12
It was such a pleasure to finally take a class I'd heard about for years. Fulfilling requirements for a master's degree and other government requirements, took several years of schooling. When I finally was able to take Project WILD, it was as though I was able to satisfy my own needs. I was fascinated by the content, and know my students will be, too. Not only did we learn lots of interesting things about Idaho wildlife, we also learned how to integrate it into the subjects we're required to teach. And it's fun!

Wild about Birds of Prey - March 12 and 13
We met at the World Center for Birds of Prey, where Cathi Nigro, of the Peregrine Fund, took us on a personal tour of the facility. In addition to the tour, we saw live birds up-close, archives where endangered species eggs are held, historical memorabilia and a world-class library on raptors.

The next day we boarded vans and headed toward the BLM Snake River Birds of Prey area. Barb Forderhase, of the BLM, led us through this beautiful area. We stopped to observe burrowing owls, eagles, hawks, kestrels, and many features of these birds that a lay person might not see. We ate our sack lunches at Celebration Park and observed more enormous eagle nests across the river. I would have loved to have spent the day with a good pair of binoculars watching the cliff activity. My thoughts turned to Morley Nelson and his boys, spending their youth learning to climb and film those eagles. What rich childhoods they must have experienced with their bird-loving father. What a contrast to our school kids, many of whom have almost no experiences with nature.

Wild about Salmon - July 7 and 8
We met at the MK Nature Center where Dave Cannemela captivated us with the story of Idaho salmon. Lori Adams provided us with educational and playful strategies and activities both inside and outside the building. Later, we put on the waders and marched into the Boise River to collect samples of water and river wildlife. We saw frogs, crayfish, insects, and all sorts of food sources for water animals. Hands-on and very interesting!

The next day proved to be even better. We boarded several vans and Evin Oneale led us to the fish trap on the south fork of the Salmon River. Individually, we experienced netting & holding a full grown salmon and then measuring it and sorting it by gender. Two lucky classmates caught "wild" salmon which still possessed the adipose fin. Those fish were kissed and returned to the river. I have since driven my own family to the spot to share my experience.

This class was the selfish highlight of my summer (Or so I thought, because I hadn't experienced Harriman yet).

Focus on Literature with WILD, WET, and LEARNING TREE - August 8 and 9.
Three enthusiastic teachers (Lori Adams, Michelle Youngquist and Julie Scanlin greeted us at the Foothills Learning Center with hundreds of non-fiction and fiction books about animals and nature. Outdoor activities were playful and educational.

Stan Steiner, from BSU, presented us with some of the latest children's books on nature and showed us some new strategies to use them. He had a little trouble keeping our attention at one point, because in the yard through the window, was a doe and two fawns. This experience instantly revealed the value of a learning center where nature truly exists in the backyard. What a classroom experience for children!

There were great give-away books for every teacher. I left with at least four books on animals that will aid in studying life cycles. This class combined the importance of active strategies, nature, animals, plants & water and the importance of literature as a tool to provide language to link it all together.

Wild in the Yellowstone Ecosystem - July 31 thru August 5

July 31, Sunday morning.
Ivy DeHart and I caravanned from Boise to Harriman State Park. After arriving, I met my roommate for the week, Linda Stanger, 4th gr. teacher from Idaho Falls. We turned out to be good friends, and I look forward to seeing her again. A very diverse group of men and women, all teachers, gathered together for what looks to be an interesting week. We met Greg Losinski and others, who will be running the show. After a yummy catered dinner, and an introduction and overview to IDFG, we headed to bed for a good sleep in the bunkhouse.

Monday, Aug. 1.
To start the day off, a bear biologist, from Yellowstone, shared with us a presentation on grizzlies. Kevin and Betty Collins instructed our class in ways to integrate science material, use rubrics, graphic organizers, and notebooks. An excellent manual from IDFG was distributed with content and activities to use in class, at elementary and secondary levels Later we were presented with a slide show & a nature walk to observe trumpeter swans in a protected habitat. The swans are so fragile and their future looks bleak. We observed two adults and cygnets with binoculars across Silver Lake. On the way back to the ranch, our group hiked within 20 feet of a lone moose!

Teachers are busy making plaster of Paris models of animal tracks and t-shirts with nature prints.

Tuesday, Aug. 2.
We watched a wetlands video then traveled by bus to Mesa Falls, where we saw waterfalls that plunge 114 feet. We were also lucky enough to observe eagle fledglings in a tree top across the river. On the way, we passed Henry's Fork: #1 primo fishing area in the nation!

Next we traveled to Sand Creek Wildlife Management Area where we learned how ranchers and IDFG have worked together to look after elk populations. Later, we planted willow and various plants to provide winter food for the migrating elk. Filthy day and very fun. Our group is now bonding and there is no shortage of opportunities for laughter. Bison kabobs for dinner. Yummy!

After dark, we studied bats (and there were plenty of bats to study!). We trapped them safely and humanely, observed them up-close and also in flight, then released them. Very full day of accomplishment. Excellent speakers.

Wednesday, Aug 3.
Golden Lake in Harriman was the scene of dozens of educators tromping through the creeks wearing waders, mosquito repellent, and armed with electro-shocking equipment to catch cutthroat trout for measurement, observation, classification, and restoration into the creek. We learned about native species and how introduction of foreign species upsets the balance of nature and food supply for other fish. The cutthroat trout are America's native trout and Idaho's state fish.

Later in the evening we had a presentation on bison, moose, elk and deer. Mule deer are most common in Idaho. They are considered "king."

Thursday, Aug 4.
Up early! We boarded bus to Yellowstone with sack-breakfast in hand. We began observing animal life almost immediately: Elk herds, mega-fauna, geysers, hot pools.

We were at least one hour late to West Yellowstone's Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center due to an enormous herd of bison holding up several miles of cars and tourists. Great photo opportunities were taken, not without great care to distance ourselves from these unpredictable animals.

Friday, Aug 5.
Greg has been up since 4:30 a.m. making us a scrumptious Dutch oven breakfast; we've cleaned-up and packed the cars, and enjoyed some hilarious pictures from this outrageous week of fun and learning. Our instructors have been supportive, enthusiastic, and very creative.

Sadly, this week has come to an end. I am touched and leaving Harriman with a few tears. It is a precious memory made with educators and nature lovers from all over our beautiful state. I've made new friends and now I am challenged with finding ways to transfer this love and respect of our planet to twenty-three six year olds when school starts.

Actual Critters seen this week: moose, (especially the one that ran alongside my car for about 75 yards one morning), elk, deer, grizzly bears and wolves (W. Yellowstone Recovery Center) cutthroat trout, bats, sandhill crane, trumpeter swan.

For more information about any of these workshops, registration information or setting up a workshop in your area contact Lori Adams, Project WILD Coordinator, at (208) 287-2889 or by email.