W.E.E.L.S. Enrichment Services - Grades K-12 School Year Services

(click above to download curriculum document)

“Wildlife Encounters® Experiential Learning for Schools” – The very best “In-School Field Trip” in New England!

Avoid the hastle and excessive costs of busing kids, permission slips… and simply ask us to bring a Wildlife Encounters® Classroom Presentation, Assembly or After-School Enrichment Program to your location!

We understand and respect that as a school principal, enrichment coordinator or professional educator you are a leader in your community and a role-model for your students!  The parents in your community rely on you to offer the highest quality and integrity to their child’s educational experience.

With limited enrichment budgets, hiring The W.I.L.D. Center offers you the opportunity to say to your co-workers, supervisors and community:

  • “Hiring The W.I.L.D. Center offers the most professional live-animal enrichment experience for the students!”
  • “The W.I.L.D. Center carries all the necessary licensing and insurances to minimize the liability exposure for the school, the district and the community.”  (As opposed to most other one-person “out of my house” operations, “reptile shows” and pet-store offerings that do not carry the necessary coverages or have less that excellent reputations)
  • “The zoo is going to communicate the conservation message we believe our communities and parents want their children to receive.  Not a presentation on how to keep wildlife/reptiles or how great they might be to own!”
  • The school has limited funds – and by hiring The W.I.L.D. Center, not only did we get the greatest value-for-the-dollar, but we are helping support a non-profit charitable organization, rescued animals and the formation of NH’s New Zoo!

 

W.I.L.D. School

(Curriculum Map for upcoming School Year is coming!)

“Worldwide Integrated Learning & Discovery” School

A NEW instructor-led “Zoo School” in Rochester!      ENROLLING NOW for 2012/2013!

All Sessions Run 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

  • STONES Session 1 (second Tuesdays, 12-16 yr olds)   
  • STONES Session 2 (second Wednesdays, 12-16 yr olds)     
  • ROCKS Session 1 (second Fridays, 8-11 yr olds)           

Tuition

For the 2012/2013 school year,  W.I.L.D. School will offer 9-session enrollments.  There will be two (2) “STONES” classes (12-16 yrs old) offered, with a maximum of 8 students per group.

  • Tuition for the serieswill be determined over the next few months.
  • Tuition will include snacks, W.I.L.D. School Notebooks and other instructor-provided support material and a course-completion T-shirt!
  • Enrollment in individual session will be accepted at a rate of $50.00 per session if spots are available.  Enrollment preference will be for students committing to the full series.

Call the Office at 603-817-6735

or email the Education Department at education@wildcenterne.org


About the Instructors

Steve Renner will be the Lead Instructor for the STONES Classes (ages 12-16) of  2011/2012 W.I.L.D. School!

  • Steve has a B.S in Biology from Allentown College of Saint Francis de Sales, and then completed 2 years of medical school before earning his Masters Degree in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Maine.
  • Currently a resident of Alton, NH – Steve’s experience is impressive, with time spent working at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, PA, he was an Education Staff Member atThe Academy of Natural Sciences in Philidelphia, and was Museum Coordinator at the The Natural History Museum of the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME.
  • Steve is also an Eagle Scout, and has much experience leading scout camps and working with youth in structured, instructor-led settings.

Caroline Barr will be the Lead Instructor for the ROCKS Classes (ages 8-11) of  2011/2012 W.I.L.D. School!

  • Caroline has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL, and is currently enrolled in Pre-Vet courses at Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth, NH.
  • Currently a resident of Dover, NH – Caroline has been one of our most popular Wildlife educators for the past year, presenting at Canobie Lake Park many times this past summer, being the lead “Zippity-ZOO for Preschools” educator in the 2010/2011 school year and she is especially skilled at working with the younger ages!
  • Caroline is also well-known in the NH Seacoast Area as she has delivered much programming at and for the Seacoast Science Center in Rye!  Among other amazing experiences she can share with the students are her time working at or interning with the following organizations: The Dolphin and Whale Hospital, Mote Marine Laboratory; Audubon Zoo (Children’s Zoo), New Orleans, LA; Lemur Conservation Foundation, Myakka City, FL; Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL

ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE

Instructor-led time and activities will be supplemented by guest lectures from local wildlife rehabilitators, law enforcement officials and our other Staff / Board Members with varying educational tracts such as Biology, Wildlife Ecology, Pre-vet, etc.  Inclusive will also be guest lectures from our staff that have lived abroad in Australia & Africa.

We are pulling together a really exceptional experience for the students that will broaden their world view and help expose them to the many ways that we can contribute our life’s work to conservation and sustainability.   Additionally, each student will gain valuable public-speaking skills that will build self-confidence and communications skills.  Lots of animal-handling opportunities, and of course the basics of wildlife biology and ecology will be covered early in the year.

W.I.L.D SCHOOL to be comprised of One (1) Session per month. The duration to be 3 hours per session, and to be held in Rochester, NH.   Students will be expected to maintain records, a W.I.L.D. School Notebook, and will have between-session assignments & tasks they will be asked to complete.

End of the school-year practical application will be to deliver a Wildlife Encounters® Live-Animal Presentation to a group.  For STONES and BOULDERS Groups this presentation may be a donated show for a needy group such as a local orphanage or other group to be determined.  Younger groups will generally deliver to family & friends.   Students may suggest organizations they may wish to donate their presentation to – pending approval.


Zippity-ZOO Service for Preschools, Daycares & Rec Depts

(click above to download flyer)

Offered during the 9-month school year, “Zippity-ZOO” is available to Daycares, Preschools, Headstarts, MOPS groups, and Rec/Community Services offering weekday activities.  Designed as a progressive curriculum with   A 9-month obligation is not required!  Try the service for visit – your kids and customers will LOVE IT!

 

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“STRATEGIC PARTNERS IN EDUCATION” (SPE)

The The W.I.L.D. Center and Zoological Park of New England is committed to positively contributing to and giving back to our communities and citizens in every way possible.  A part of this effort is establishing and leveraging Strategic Partnerships and cooperative relationships with other NGO, Non-Profit or for-profit entities in the region that have synergistic missions and with whom we can work to offer enhanced Environmental Education opportunities & benefit/forward our Mission.

The W.I.L.D. Center has had a close working relationship with this non-profit organization for several years, which results in training & educational opportunities for our Staff, as well as the ability to enhance out Outreach Programs and assist native wildlife!

 Our current facility acts as a “transfer station” for injured & orphaned wildlife in need of rehabilitation & re-release where we usually transport them to “WINGS” or other similar facilities in the region.   Additionally, during the school-year The W.I.L.D. Center has an agreement with “WINGS” under which we may use some of their non-releasable wildlife/raptors as an option for teachers to enhance our W.E.E.L.S. Enrichment Curriculum. If schools/teachers elect this option there are additional charges involved which cover associated costs of transport as well as contribute to the funding for “WINGS” and their rehabilitation & release work!