Date: 11/19/08
Contact: C. Douglas Nielsen
Phone: (702) 486-5127, ext. 3500

TEACHERS LEARN ABOUT WETLANDS AND WATERFOWL

Clark County educators gained some new tools for teaching their students about wetlands and waterfowl during a new workshop held Nov. 15 at the Clark County Wetlands Park near the Sam Boyd Silver Bowl. The workshop’s focus was “Project webfoot,” a curriculum created by the conservation organization Ducks Unlimited to help students understand the importance of wetlands, waterfowl and the role they play in the environment.

The workshop was led by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), and Ducks Unlimited. Participants included classroom teachers as well as non-formal educators from Boys and Girls Clubs, Wild Horse Golf Course and the Partners in Conservation group.

“Our purpose was to relate the importance of wetlands, both worldwide and in Nevada - the driest state in the union,” said Margie Klein, wildlife education coordinator for NDOW. “Many endangered species are found at Nevada’s lakes, streams, springs and washes, even though they make up only 1.5 percent of Nevada’s area. Wetlands are crucial for the survival of many wildlife species.”

The workshop raised awareness of the precarious situation of wetlands and helped to create an appreciation for the unique animals that live there. Ducks Unlimited member Todd Pesavento provided a quick primer on duck identification. The educators then toured the Wetlands Park to view waterfowl and see the tracks of other aquatic species, such as beaver.

NDOW also offers Project Wild and Aquatic Wild workshops for teachers. Project Wild covers terrestrial wildlife and Aquatic Wild covers aquatic wildlife, with emphasis on fish. Each workshop is offered twice a year, in the spring and fall. These training sessions are part of a series of educational workshops offered by various land management agencies, and include Project WET and Project Learning Tree. More information on these can be found at www.projectwild.org, www.projectwet.org, and www.plt.org, respectively.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a Federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.