The Links, Incorporated

Welcome to our partnership resource page!

"The National Wildlife Federation is proud to partner with The Links, Incorporated and support The Links' individual member and chapter work to connect youth to STEM learning in nature through the Garden for Wildlife® program. We commend The Links' commitment to WildSTEM work to restore and enhance wildlife habitat where people live, work, play, learn, and worship across communities. Specifically, we will work together to engage underrepresented communities in conservation to benefit both wildlife and people. The National Wildlife Federation's commitment to equity and environmental justice will underscore our work together."

– Mary Phillips, Senior Director, Garden for Wildlife®

Environmental Work

The Links-NWF partnership is crucial in bridging the divide between STEM education and wildlife conservation. More importantly, this partnership will elevate the messaging around the urgency and importance of reconnecting all people to nature while inspiring a new generation of environmental stewards. Even before the partnership began, members of The Links played instrumental roles in this important area.

The National Headquarters of The Links, Incorporated in Washington, DC, has been officially certified as the 250,000th National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat® in the nation. “We are proud to be designated as a significant Certified Wildlife Habitat® garden that complements our LEED Gold-certified headquarters building,” said Dr. Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, national president of The Links. Also, 1,800 members responded enthusiastically Dr. Jeffries Leonard's Earth Day 2020 call to action to create wildlife-friendly gardens at home while sheltering in place this spring.

WildSTEM program lead and National Wildlife Federation Board Member Dr. Mamie Parker has incorporated the Garden for Wildlife® efforts within the LINKS-STEMREADY Signature Program. This program is integral to The Links’ considerable work across the nation and abroad both to address disproportional environmental impacts on our communities, and to educate and prepare our youth — particularly those in disadvantaged areas — for careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

The National Wildlife Federation and The Links, Incorporated have compiled gardening resources to meet the unique needs of kids and families, schools, communities, and anyone just getting started with their habitat garden. Click a bolded link below to access a resource.

Resources for Building Your Habitat Garden

Native Plant Habitats Resources page – Check out other tip sheets and informational videos.
Design a Better Wildlife Garden with our landscape design guide.
Find Native Plants for your habitat garden:
- Native Plant Finder – Search by zip code to find plants that host the highest numbers of butterflies and moths to feed birds and other wildlife where you live.
- Find commercially available caterpillar host plants that are native to your ecoregion.
- See the Monarch Nectar Plant List for your area.

Resources for Youth and Family

Ranger Rick at Home – Explore the outdoors from home with new activities every day of the week!

Resources for Community and School Partners

Monarch Butterfly Curriculum – an educational guide to the construction of a school’s monarch recovery garden and monarch observations. Starting with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the lessons and activities were designed to support learning within the PK-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 grade bands.
Create a Schoolyard Habitat. Download the Schoolyard Habitat guide.
Implement an EcoSchools U.S. program.
Sacred Grounds – Create wildlife habitats in your faith communities.
Stemming the Tide: Taking Action on Campus Against Plastic Pollution – This guide features smaller, individual actions, and campus-wide engagement campaigns and includes information about the plastics pollution problem, its impacts on humans and wildlife, action ideas, and educational strategies. In addition, refer to these easy quizzes to engage students and volunteers.