DETAILS

COURSE INFORMATION AND OBJECTIVES

Through class presentations, discussions, and field activities specializing in all things wildlife, teachers will gain an understanding of how they can bring these topics into their classrooms!

Topics:

  • Montana Wildlife ID

    • Learn how to bring wildlife into your classroom through hands on activities about Montana critters! Wildlife identification, habitat use, and conservation discussion will allow educators to build their own understanding while getting great ideas for lessons!

  • People and Wildlife

    • Ever wondered how Montana wildlife are being affected by human development? Are you curious about the importance of wildlife to small town cultures and economies? In this segment of the Field School teachers will participate in activities that address some of the big topics in Montana and learn about ways they can incorporate these topics into their own classrooms!

  • Project WILD curriculum

    • Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks education staff will lead a fun, hands-on training for teachers and will include 8 OPI renewal credits. The training will showcase the award-winning Project Wild curriculum, which will be given to each participant. This is a wildlife-based conservation curriculum that over 1.5 million teachers in the United States have been trained in.

  • Science Outside

    • Science is everywhere! In this portion of the Field School, educators will get a crash course in ways to incorporate outdoor science into their lessons! Along with thinking through how students can apply science to their questions about wildlife, the teachers will gain tips and tricks for managing students in outdoor spaces.

ABOUT THE GUEST INSTRUCTORS

Danielle Oyler works as the Wildlife Stewardship Outreach Specialist for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks where she plans, develops and delivers outreach materials, programs and resources for people living in bear country. She studied environmental studies and wildlife biology at the University of Montana and has been involved in wildlife information, education and outreach for over 13 years. She is the chair of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee's Yellowstone Ecosystem education subcommittee. Danielle served as coordinator for the Montana Bear Education Working Group, worked as naturalist guide and instructor, and park ranger.

Ryan Schmaltz has been an educator for 12 years. He coordinates most of teacher trainings that happen around the state for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Ryan also coordinates two statewide educational efforts for MT FWP; one is the National Archery in the Schools Program. with roughly 200 schools participating in that program. The second is the Project Wild Program where Ryan holds about one teacher training around the state per month. Last year, over 40 professional development trainings for teachers were hosted. The rest of Ryan’s job is spent working at the Montana Wild Education Center in Helena and helping with the Hooked-on Fishing Program. Whatever time is left over he fills up with other fish and wildlife education events.