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Resources

Webinars

NWF offers an ongoing series of live webinars about school greening through our Schoolyard Habitats and Eco-Schools USA programs. These free webinars, open to all, offer tips about getting started with greening school grounds, facilities and curriculum. Sign up here to receive information about Eco-Schools USA, Schoolyard Habitats and upcoming webinars.

Upcoming Live Webinars

Schoolyard Habitats Webinars

• February 29, 2012: National Wildlife Week--EXTRAordinary Wildlife. Learn all about animals with extraordinary capabilities and find fun activities during National Wildlife Week, March 19-25, 2012. This webinar provides fun ideas for teaching about and celebrating wildlife that you can do any time of year, not just during National Wildlife Week.

Eco-Schools Webinars

• April 11, 2012: Introduction to our New Pathways. The Eco-Schools USA team is introducing four new pathways to the Eco-Schools USA program. Join us to learn about the new pathways and how they can help you in your school greening efforts. 5-6 p.m. EST
• August 15, 2012: Beyond Science: How to Tie Eco-Schools to Other School Subjects.  You can incorporate the Eco-Schools USA program into almost any subject, we'll help you understand how. We'll also talk about STEAM, and how you can incorporate 'arts' into STEM education. 5-6 p.m. EST
   

Recordings of Past Webinars

Schoolyard Habitats Webinar Recordings

• Fundraising for Your Schoolyard Habitat (October 25, 2011): Learn about potential sources of grants and in-kind support for Schoolyard Habitats, creative approaches to fundraising, and how to engage your school and your community in raising funds and gathering support for your project. Don't let a lack of funds hold you back from starting your Schoolyard Habitat project!
• Taking Learning Outside (August 24, 2011): Whether or not you have a Schoolyard Habitat or outdoor classroom, you too can take learning outside. Learn how to teach nearly any subject outdoors and meet national content standards. Presenters provide examples of how they have translated standards into specific outdoor activities.
• Summer Maintenance Planning for Your Schoolyard Habitat (May 10, 2011): Tips for how to care for your habitat during the summer season (and the rest of the year).
• Designing Your Schoolyard Habitat Project (February 3, 2011): Have you ever considered creating or improving a school garden or creating a wildlife friendly outdoor classroom? National Wildlife Federation's webinar covers the basics of how to plan, install and maintain a Schoolyard Habitat (outdoor classroom) and how to use your habitat garden as a teaching tool for meeting standards of learning.
• Creating a Schoolyard Habitat: How to Create, Maintain and Teach in an Outdoor Classroom (August 24, 2010): Are you ready to create a Schoolyard Habitat, but not sure how to start? National Wildlife Federation's webinar covers special design and project planning considerations for installing a habitat on school grounds and utilizing a habitat for teaching.

Eco-Schools USA Webinar Recordings

• How to Engage Administrators, the School Board and the Greater Community in Your Efforts (January 11th, 2012). It is much easier to implement the Eco-Schools USA program at your school when you have support...we'll help you devise a way to get it! 
• Eco-Schools USA on a Budget (May 4, 2011). Tools and tips for greening your school on a tight budget.
• Introduction to Eco-Schools USA (March 23, 2011). This is a webinar to introduce you to Eco-Schools USA, part of the largest green schools program in the world! Listen in for tips on how to green your school!

National Wildlife Week Webinar Recording

• National Wildlife Week--Wildlife That Move Us (February 23, 2011): National Wildlife Week 2011 was all about Wildlife That Move Us and featured 45 different species of wildlife that fly, climb, leap, swim, crawl, dig and more! This webinar provides suggestions about fun activities for teaching about and celebrating wildlife that you can do any time of year, not just during National Wildlife Week.

Educator Resources

• Get To Know Your Wild Neighbors Contest - For over ten years, internationally renowned wildlife artist Robert Bateman has spearheaded a Canadian program that encourages youth to "get to know their wild neighbors." The contest inspire youth to discover nature, express themselves creatively, and learn to care for the environment through art, writing, and photography.
• Ranger Rick Educators Guide - Ranger Rick® magazine is a great tool for building nonfiction reading skills and conceptual science understanding in children. Make the most of your Ranger Rick subscription with these monthly educational supplements.
• Outdoor Family Fun Guide - Download this brochure of great take-home activities for students to share with their families--the perfect supplement to National Wildlife Week lessons. The brochure includes easy-to-do projects such as creating a pinecone birdfeeder, tode abode and bird bath.
• Wildlife University - A fun, interactive way to learn at your own pace about endangered species and creating wildlife habitats.
• Youth Service/Community Service Project Ideas - Learn about fun and meaningful programs for youth or community service.

Schoolyard Habitats® Resources 

• Creating Schoolyard Habitat Sites: A How-To Guide   
• Certify Your Schoolyard Habitat with NWF   
• Frequently asked questions about Schoolyard Habitats®   
• Schoolyard Habitats® lesson plans
• Ideas for where to get help for your schoolyard habitat in your community  
• "The Schoolyard Habitat Movement: What It Is and Why Children Need It" by Mary Rivkin, Ph.D.
• "Down By the Schoolyard" by Stephen R. Coffee  

Funding Resources

• America the Beautiful Fund, Operation Green Plant - Provides grants of flower, herb and vegetable seeds.
• National Gardening Association - Provides in-kind grants for school and youth gardens.
• Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Education Grants - Grants to support projects that enhance the public's awareness, knowledge and skills to help people make informed decisions that affect environmental quality.
• NEA Foundation Green Grants  - Public school educators are eligible to apply for individual grants worth up to $5,000 for the development and implementation of ideas, techniques, and approaches for teaching “green” concepts.
• Learn and Serve America  - Supports grant programs to integrate community service with curricula through service learning.
• Wild Ones, Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Grant Program - Gives small monetary grants to schools, nature centers, and other non-profit and not-for-profit places of learning with a site available for a stewardship project.
• Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation  - Supports public education and community improvement projects.
• National Environmental Education Foundation  - Provides grants to support environmental education.

Additional Resources from NWF Partners

• National Gardening Association - Learn about Youth Gardens that encourage children to make good food choices, build a love of nature, stimulate social interaction, facilitate cultural exchange, and more.  
• Get to Know Society - An organization that works to increase students' understanding of wildlife and connection with nature. Offers lesson plans for teachers.
• US Fish and Wildlife Service Educators' Page  - This site offers curriculum resources and activities, ideas for community service projects, professional development opportunities, and more.
• US Forest Service Kids in the Woods  - Learn about the US Forest Service's programs to bring kids to nature—and nature to kids.
• American Forest Foundation, Project Learning Tree  - Find environmental education resources for educators, including activities and curricula.
• Project Wet - Find water education resources for educators.