Schools 

 Landscape 

 for Wildlife 



Marilyn C. Wyzga 



Fifth grader at Great Brook School in Antrim planting black- 

 berry bush in wildlife area. Photograph by Marilyn C VJyzga 



Children around the state are using their 

 heads and their hands to make a big differ- 

 ence for wildlife. They're hammering together 

 bird boxes, raising butterflies, and deciding 

 what trees to plant to provide homes for all kinds of 

 wildlife as part of Project HOME, which helps schools 

 turn their grounds into vital habitat. 



Typical school grounds consist of flat, grassy lawns 

 accented with a few flowers and shrubs, a beaten dirt 

 play area, and parking lots that double as ball courts A 

 closer look reveals wildlife activity. Most is small and 

 common to us, like squirrels, butterflies, and birds, but 

 some school grounds also provide habitat for deer, tur- 

 key, and even moose. 



The National Wildlife Federation has been certifying 

 backyard habitats for over 20 years. This type of land- 

 owner activity is one practical application of sustainable 

 landscaping. Schools are finding their grounds can serve 

 a similar role. It's not necessary to journey to the rain 

 forest to see plants of interest or learn lessons of value. 

 Instead, they are focusing more and more on studying 

 their immediate surroundings, both to learn the local 

 landscape and to save field trip costs 



The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department as- 



sists schools with Project HOME. The program includes 

 training workshops, the Homes for Wildlife curriculum 

 guide, on-site help, and fundraising tips. Nearly 50 New 

 Hampshire schools have participated in Project HOME 

 since 1991, when Fish and Game developed the pro- 

 gram in cooperation with UNH Cooperative Extension. 

 These schools are now involved with an international 

 network of organizations, agencies, and schools promot- 

 ing schoolyard habitat. 



There are practical ways in which the Green Commu- 

 nity can become involved with these projects. Although 

 there is extensive preplanning and study on the part of 

 the school, your role is very specific. It is important for 

 the schools to have access to different resources and 

 viewpoints. You can be one of them, lending your ex- 

 pertise and providing materials. 



Projects start simply, with the interest of one teacher 

 or a group of students or parents. The school contacts 

 Fish and Game to arrange a workshop. The six-hour 

 training provides specific, hands-on activities for teach- 

 ers and students to learn the basic concepts and prac- 

 tice the necessary skills for wildlife habitat enhance- 

 ment. These include team building, map making, site 

 inventory, learning about habitat, and exploring the 



AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 



