| Environmental
Education |
| We
invite teachers, scout leaders and any other group leader to use
the refuge to enhance your curriculum. With enough advance notice
and availability, we can offer a program to your group.
Before you
call, think about your specific needs; Information about your
curriculum/requested program assists us in creating a program
for your children that reinforces class teaching. If refuge staff
is not available for a program, you can easily guide your group
through our self-guided nature trails.
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Teachers
are encouraged to attend a Project
Wild educational program put on by the Oklahoma Department
of Wildlife emphasizing awareness, appreciation and understanding
of wildlife and natural resources. Project Wild is offered at
different places across the state at different times and you can
request a program in your area.
The U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service has published a website geared towards teachers
and students at http://educators.fws.gov/
. Resources at this website include pictures, training opportunities,
maps, videos and more.
Salt Plains
NWR keeps a collection of education video tapes for your use.
Subjects on the tapes vary from eagles, wetlands, invasive species,
habitat and more. Please contact the refuge for a specific tape. |
Bonham
Pond Outdoor Classroom
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| The
Bonham Pond Outdoor Classroom was completed in 2005. This classroom
is complete with electricity, tables, exhibit panels and chalkboard.
Exhibit panels concentrate on wetlands with emphasis on reptiles
and amphibians, aquatic invertebrates, birds, fish and plants.
The refuge periodically offers a workshop called
WoW
the Wonder of Wetlands for teachers to learn how to teach
about wetlands in the classroom. In addition to the classroom,
the refuge has provided trunks with
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wetland
equipment, including microscopes, water sampling tools, ID books,
waders, invertebrate nets and much more.
Teachers interested
in using the classroom should contact the refuge to reserve space.
The use of the classroom is free and is on a first come/first
serve basis. Classes that called ahead for reservations will be
given preference in the event of a conflict. |
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Equipment
trunks can be checked from the refuge office with a call in advance.
Trunks may be used on the refuge or checked out for use in the
classroom.
The classroom,
equipment, exhibits and more were funded in a grant from the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The grant was received as a cooperative
effort between Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, Alfalfa Electric
Cooperative, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, the Great Salt
Plains Association and the Byron State Fish Hatchery.
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In 2007, the
"Catalpa Grove" outdoor
classroom was completed by Youth Conservation
Corp enrollees. Visitors can find this area on Eagle
Roost Nature Trail. The grove has a standing-height table
and benches. It's a great place to play outdoor games beneath
the trees, enjoy bird watching or teach (sans electricity, of
course).
Wildlife In the Classroom
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Programs
with refuge staff can be created individually for you and your
current curriculum, badge needs, etc.
The following
programs were created to give your class an age-friendly opportunity
to learn about the natural world.
These programs
can be done on the refuge or brought into your classroom (local).
All programs
are based on current availability of resources. Live animals may
not be available for all herp/reptile programs.
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Kindergarten
- Nature Discovery - Our senses (1.5-2 hours)
1st Grade - Nature’s Internet - Habitat/Food
Chains and the Water Cycle (1-1.5 hours)
2nd Grade - Amazing Adaptations - Habitat/Adaptations
(1-1.5 hours)
3rd Grade - Animal Relationships (1-1.5 hours)
4th Grade - Wetlands (1-1.5 hours)
5th Grade - Herps - Reptiles and Amphibians (1-1.5
hours)
6th Grade - Oklahoma Habitat (1-1.5 hours) |
Shorebird
Sister Schools Program
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| Salt
Plains NWR is also involved in the Shorebirds Sister School Program,
SSSP. This exciting curriculum uses shorebirds to teach, not only
about science, but history, geography, mathematics and more. |
| Follow
the shorebird migration routes, work with schools in other countries
and learn about how even one bird can connect cultures to each other.
A SSSP trunk is available for use, as well as
curriculum, student workbooks and staff assistance for this great
program. Shorebirds are best taught (in our area) during spring
and fall migration, but since the program is cross-continent,
students can work on projects with other schools throughout the
year. To find out more, please visit http://sssp.fws.gov
.
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