A Wildlife Resource Center (WRC) should be established within the school. This should house curricular materials, field manuals, maintenance equipment, lab equipment, texts, references, etc. The following is a list of books and materials that might be included in your WRC. In order to acquire Project WILD, Project Learning Tree, Project WET, and Leopold Education Project curricular materials you must contact Kansas Association for Environmental Education. These are outstanding experiences and we highly recommend that you participate in them.

The Kansas Earth Partnership for Schools (KS EPS) curriculum (developed by UW-Madison Arboretum) has more than 100 activities related to the background research, preparation, implementation, maintenance, and follow-up study of schoolyard prairie gardens for K-12 schools and many of them are correlated to the adopted national standards of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Common Core. The curriculum is free who take the 40-hour course.

 Equipment:

Magnifying glasses, binoculars, microscopes, cameras, butterfly nets, dip nets, water analysis kits, sweep nets, soil analysis kits, string and stakes for transects.

 Curriculum Materials:

• Nature's Notebook, WES KDWPT
• Lower Primary Teacher's Guide, WES KDWPT
• Upper Primary Teacher's Guide, WES KDWPT
• Wildlife Reference Center Catalog, WES KDWPT (Update 2002)
• Something WILD - Animal Resource Booklet with Illustrations.
• Project WILD
• Project WILD Aquatic
• Project Learning Tree
• Kansas Earth Partnership for Schools at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains

Most of these resource materials are free, but you must participate in a workshop to receive the Project Wild guides.

The Wildlife Resource Library of KDWPT has an extensive collection of references, audiovisual materials, and kits that may be checked out. Visit them on the web by clicking below or write for a free catalog at the address below.

 Wildlife Resource Library

 KDWPT 512 SE 25th Ave.

Pratt KS 67124
Phone Number: (620) 672-5911
 

Environment Professionals

They include representatives of forestry, wildlife, and soil conservation agencies; extension agents; state department of education curriculum consultants; land planners; and landscape architects or designers. Such people should be involved in initial planning stages. They can also assist when new projects are considered or existing projects expanded. These people will provide a wealth of valuable technical assistance and expertise. Your KDWPT district biologist is an excellent and helpful source of information and ideas.

Local Businesses

Many businesses today are looking for ways to foster community pride and involvement. Such relationships can provide you with a variety of materials and services. Committee members and students could personally visit several business establishments and determine to what degree they could provide materials or technical assistance to the OWLS project. Remember that some businesses may prefer to give materials and labor rather then dollars. Be resourceful and cooperative.

Habitat Improvement

Habitat improvement is community involvement. Ideas the public sees working successfully on the school grounds might inspire additional improvements in the community. Don't be limited by these ideas. Brainstorm with your students and committee members. Start with your needs and think of who might be able to help.

Examples:

• Nursery: trees, shrubs, other plants
• Hardware Store: shovels, hand trowels, rakes
• Garden Shop/Feed Store: seeds, bird seed for feeders
• Lumber Company: scraps to build bird feeders, houses, and other shelters
• Utility Company: wood chips for trails and walks, poles for posts and trail borders
• Concrete Company: sand and cement for a wildlife tracking area
• Office Supply Store: paper for OWLS newsletter
• Landscape Company: soil, plants, rocks, design assistance