At School

Creating habitat in outdoor experiential learning spaces for youth provides a multitude of benefits to students of all ages. The National Wildlife Federation has a menu of options to engage educators and students alike in creating habitat, becoming environmental leaders, and supporting the next generation in saving our planet. Students and classrooms from early childhood through grades K-16 can incorporate native plant habitat and certify spaces in the following settings.

A yard sign from the National Wildlife Federation's Certified Schoolyard Habitat program installed beside a sunny garden featuring red, hot pink, orange, and white flowers.

A group of four children playing with sand and baking tools on an outdoor table.

Early Childhood

ECHO is a National Wildlife Federation program that facilitates the creation of nature-based outdoor play settings; provides support and resources for parents, caregivers, and educators to activate these spaces; and advocates for policies to transform outdoor play and learning best practice into common practice.

When young children spend time daily in high-quality, well-designed, nature-based outdoor spaces, the benefits are clear: improved physical health and social-emotional development, better cognitive skills, and increased affinity for the outdoors. The earlier in life that children experience these benefits, the better their developmental trajectory.

Four elementary school students standing and smiling together in the shade while holding a sign that reads Certified Schoolyard Habitat.

K-12

Since 1996, the National Wildlife Federation has helped K-12 schools across the country create Schoolyard Habitats® to restore native habitats, provide access to nature, and create outdoor classrooms, helping learning to come alive across the curriculum. Schools become hubs for enhancing biodiversity, exploring climate resiliency, and building community. Thousands of schools are participating, and the numbers keep growing.

K-12 Schools can Design, Build, Certify, and Use Wildlife Habitats in two ways through free educational programs and resources.

Schoolyard Habitats® Program

Create & Certify

The process can be led by educators, schools, communities, and students.
Planning and creating a Schoolyard Habitat®. See our schoolyard guide.
When ready, go to the online certification application. And the good news—Schoolyard Certified Wildlife Habitat® application fees are waived for schools!
Purchase Schoolyard Habitats® certification signage (optional).

EcoSchools U.S.

This process is led by the school community, at-large community, and student-led with free resources provided by the National Wildlife Federation.

Create

Use the global EcoSchools Framework, and the EcoSchools U.S. cross-cutting themes of Wildlife and Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Healthy and Resilient Communities.
Schools develop action plans from the action card library.

Certification Options

Completing various stages of the process results in Certified Wildlife Habitat®, a Schoolyard Habitats® campaign badge, and EcoSchools certification.
Purchase Schoolyard Habitats® certification signage (optional).
Upon completion, action plans are reviewed, and certification is earned at the Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Green Flag levels.

Colleges and Universities

Over 300 colleges and universities in the United States have been certified under the National Wildlife Federation's Certified Wildlife Habitat® program. Any institution that meets the criteria for providing food, water, cover, and places to raise young, along with sustainable landscape practices, can apply. In addition, they can educate others and recognize their efforts with a sign to be posted prominently on campus.

Colleges and universities play a dynamic role in protecting wildlife and restoring habitats, including on-campus landscapes and natural areas, as well as distant campus-owned lands. Campus green spaces not only support healthy habitat for wildlife, but also benefit students, faculty, and staff with leadership opportunities, hands-on learning, energy savings, water conservation, and much more.