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Christine Rolka Director of Education |
Investing in educators
Anyone who has attended an NWTF outreach event — as a participant or volunteer — knows firsthand the impact these exciting hands-on educational experiences have on those lucky enough to take part. But what about those who never make it to a JAKES, Women in the Outdoors or Wheelin' Sportsmen event? How can we expand our reach for a broader understanding and appreciation of what the NWTF is, what we stand for and why we do what we do?
We must educate our country's educators.
Most of us think of an educator as the traditional K-12 classroom teacher. But don't forget that naturalists, interpreters and curators develop and deliver educational programming for people of all ages at nature centers, parks, museums, and through state wildlife and forestry agency programs. They may not have a formal classroom, but they still have a tremendous impact on the general public — perhaps even more widespread than a classroom teacher.
Think about it. A traditional teacher may have 25 to 120 students per year, depending on the grade level or subject they teach, and potentially impact more than a thousand students in the span of a teaching career. A naturalist or interpreter may reach as many as 5,000 visitors per year, potentially impacting more than 150,000 visitors in the span of a career!
Many state wildlife and forestry agencies provide training workshops for hundreds of educators a year through programs like Project WILD, Project Learning Tree and others. One workshop for an audience of 25 educators has the potential to reach thousands of students of all ages in a single year.
Investing in educators has an exponential teaching impact. That's why it is important for the NWTF to support the educators that have embraced our story and mission. It's even more important we continue to provide opportunities that introduce, train and equip those who have not yet heard of us.
The great comeback story of the wild turkey has tremendous educational appeal. (And not just around Thanksgiving.) While some educators may not have grown up around hunters and may even have misconceptions about hunting, through these workshops, they ultimately come to appreciate, respect and understand the role that hunting and hunters play in wildlife conservation. Hopefully, this newfound enlightenment is passed on through their teaching programs for years to come.
Each year, the NWTF recognizes educators who make outstanding efforts to incorporate conservation concepts in their classrooms or education programs through our Conservation Educator of the Year Award Program. Laurie Root is the latest addition to the esteemed list of recipients. Read on the following page how she has brought the wild turkey to her efforts as a naturalist with the South Dakota Department of Fish and Game.
Laurie's story shows firsthand how educator training plus the right resources equals thousands of learning experiences in the name of conservation. Now that's a math problem with a meaningful solution. — Christine