GAME COMMISSION TO PROVIDE WILDLIFE WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS AND OTHER EDUCATORS

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is announcing a pair of wildlife education workshops for educators and scout and youth group leaders in April. The two programs, both of which are Act 48 approved for educators, are Pennsylvania Biodiversity and WILD About Elk.

Theresa Alberici, Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Education specialist, facilitates and administers Project WILD, which is one of the most widely-used conservation and environmental education programs among educators of students from kindergarten through 12th grades. These workshops, which are part of the series of Advanced WILD and PA Songbird workshops provided by the Game Commission, will be held at the Game Commission's Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area along Hopeland Road, two miles south of Kleinfeltersville, Lebanon County.

Following is a summary of the programs, both of which are free of charge.

Pennsylvania Biodiversity: On April 1, Pennsylvania Game Commission and Carbon County Conservation District will host a workshop featuring the brand new "Pennsylvania Biodiversity" supplement to "Windows on the WILD." This program will help educators prepare students to explore the diverse ecosystems of Pennsylvania and discover the importance of biodiverstiy in the everyday world. For registration, please contact Jeannie Carl, at the CCEEC, 151 E. White Bear Drive, Summit Hill, PA 18250, by phone (570-645-8597) or fax (570-645-8499).

WILD about Elk: On April 10, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Lehigh Zoo will sponsor "WILD about Elk," a very popular Project WILD workshop, that takes a close look at Pennsylvania's largest member of the cervid family. Once extirpated from the Commonwealth, a thriving elk herd of roughly 700 animals roams a portion of northcentral Pennsylvania. As part of this workshop, participants will view elk at this zoo. To register, contact Janet Berry Enos, Lehigh Valley Zoo, P.O. Box 519, 5150 Game Preserve Road, Schnecksville, PA 18078, 610-799-4171 (ext. 238), or email her at jberry-enos@lvzoo.org.

Facts from the Pennsylvania Game Commission: In 2007, more than 1,500 educators participated in basic WILD workshops, as well as Advanced WILD workshops, hosted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.