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 and WRQ, Inc., middle school students at Forks Middle and Elementary Schools in Forks, Wash. will get answers to these and more through Woodland Park Zoo’s award-winning outreach program, Wild Wise, on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 16-17. In addition to student presentations, Wild Wise will also make a special evening presentation open to the community on Tuesday, April 16.

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.”

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, 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. Last 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 reached more than 20,000 middle school students statewide, including schools in Spokane, Yakima and Vancouver. The zoo’s goal is to reach 10,000 kids every year in communities large and small throughout the state.