SEATTLE - Which animal made this footprint? What kind of bird is making that sound? What markings help to identify that species? Thanks to funding provided by Bank of America, sixth graders at Discovery Middle School in Vancouver, Wash. will learn some techniques that wildlife biologists use when in the field. On Tuesday, November 13, Woodland Park Zoo will present its award-winning outreach program, Wild Wise, to the middle schoolers and help them become a little wiser the “wild” way. Oregon Zoo will cap the presentation with their birds of prey flight show.

Wild Wise is the zoo’s first program that reaches students statewide. It is designed to inspire middle school students to take an active interest in the natural world around them. High-quality video presentation techniques æ stunning wildlife imagery projected on a big screen, accompanied by a lively audio track æ are utilized to accomplish its goals.

“Together, the sound and motion drive home the beauty and power of the wild animals and habitats of Washington state,” notes Frank Hein, Wild Wise program coordinator. The Wild Wise team then guides the students through a virtual tour of Washington habitats, presenting an opportunity for them to search for and find new wildlife species and observe their behavior. Students record their observations in field notebooks as they learn how scientists, photographers and artists use math, science, sketching and writing skills in the field. In the process, students make exciting discoveries and learn how to apply classroom lessons to the real world."

“We also encourage participating schools to augment their classroom lessons with a field component,” adds Hein, “such as visiting scientists engaged in field research or becoming involved in local conservation projects.”

“Bank of America is pleased to once again partner with Woodland Park Zoo to bring the excitement of nature to our state’s young people,” says John Rindlaub, president, Bank of America Northwest. “One way to meet our commitment to strengthen the communities in which we do business is to support quality educational programs for kids, and Wild Wise is, without a doubt, one of the best programs of its kind in the country.”

Other Wild Wise program elements include pre-visit teacher packets to prepare both teachers and students for the site visit; a “field notebook” for each student to document hands-on work in the wild; and access to lessons on the zoo’s Web site (www.zoo.org), as well as online quizzes and wildlife fact sheets. Wild Wise is also devised to deliver programs to community centers and institutions throughout Washington.

The innovative program also helps teachers by providing a new and exciting way for them to satisfy the state’s Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs) and environmental mandate guidelines. In September, the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) honored Wild Wise with a Significant Achievement Award in Education. Bank of America, WRQ, Inc., and other corporate and individual donors provide the funds to make this program possible.

With a mission of education and conservation, Woodland Park Zoo serves as a vital resource for tens of thousands of students and teachers across the state each year. To date, Wild Wise has surpassed its goal by reaching more than 15,000 middle school students statewide. This school year, Wild Wise has so far served schools in Spokane and Yakima. The zoo’s goal is to reach 10,000 kids every year in communities large and small throughout the state.