Your Wild Ohio Educator

05/06/2026

🌿 Today we officially dedicated Berwick Alternative School as the 217th WILD School Site in Ohio and the 18th in Franklin County and only the 2nd for Columbus City Schools! 🎉

The students have worked hard to create a garden that doesn't just grow food but supports wildlife. From bird houses and bug hotels to native perennial flowers and water features, the garden is home to bluebirds, monarchs, black swallowtails, goldfinches, and more. 🐝🐦🦋

The eight classrooms grow radishes, kale, tomatoes, potatoes, basil, spinach, and more in 20+ outdoor beds and indoor hydroponics. The students plant, harvest, cook, and eat it all! Extras go straight to the local food bank. They even have a few beds for rent to the community members. 🥬🥔

They are proud to name the site, “Tyler's Garden” honoring former Berwick student Tyler Simmons, who lost his life serving our country in Iraq. His memory lives on in every seed they plant.

Thank you to the Franklin County Master Gardener Volunteers, teachers, students, families, and community who made this possible.🌻

04/29/2026

Looking for an opportunity to be trained in Project WILD and Project Learning Tree with cool field trips? Consider joining our SWCD friends in western Ohio for an America250 themed workshop! Email for more details.

04/29/2026

📣The SWCD Educators of NW Ohio are back at it again with another exciting educator workshop coming up this summer on July 14, 15, and 16! We will be located at the fabulous Sauder Village in Archbold, OH and have three days filled with exciting lessons, field trips, and sharing of ideas. Participants will have the option to stay at Sauder Village at the Inn or camping (additional cost outside of workshop registration).

See the flyer below for all the details on how you can join in on the fun!

➡Want to register? https://www.lucasswcd.org/edworkshops.html

Fulton Soil & Water Conservation District Allen Soil and Water Conservation District Paulding Soil & Water Conservation District Defiance Soil and Water Conservation District Putnam County Soil & Water Conservation Washington Local Schools Sylvania Schools Oregon City Schools Toledo Public Schools Maumee City Schools Ottawa Hills Local Schools Evergreen Local School District Swanton Elementary School

04/29/2026

04/28/2026

The Division of Wildlife and Educational Service Center of Lake Erie West will be hosting a Project & Aquatic WILD workshop on July 29 from 9 am – 3:30 pm at the Shuer Center (4925 Seaman Road, Oregon, OH 43616). This workshop is for formal and nonformal educators looking to teach about wildlife to children grades K-12. All backgrounds are welcome!

The workshop is free, but registration is required. For more information or to register, visit https://www.locallevelevents.com/events/details/44674

04/28/2026

Share with NW Ohio Educators!

04/24/2026

Get ready, artists! We're looking for you!

04/16/2026

🎉 Huge congratulations to Jen Dennison on receiving the Project WILD Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies! 🏆

For 24 incredible years as Ohio’s Project WILD Coordinator, Jen has been a true champion for wildlife education and conservation. Her passion and dedication have reached thousands of educators and students across the state.

In her tenure, Jen:

✨Coordinated over 2,000 Project WILD workshops, reaching more than 30,000 educators

✨Served as lead facilitator for over 250 workshops, personally guiding over 3,000 educators (that’s more than 1,200 hours in the classroom alone!)

✨Trained over 950 educators as certified Project WILD Facilitators

✨Certified over 200 schools as WILD School Sites

✨Awarded over 500 grants to help educators bring Project WILD activities and school projects to life

✨Developed at least 10 advanced Project WILD workshops plus countless supplemental learning aids

Jen’s impact will continue to ripple through classrooms and communities for generations to come. Thank you, Jen, for your unwavering commitment to connecting people with wildlife and fostering the next generation of conservation leaders! 🌿🦌

We are so proud and grateful. 💚

04/15/2026

With YOU, we can bring outdoor learning to our community! Parents, caregivers, coaches, librarians, and educators—every minute outside helps kids grow, focus, and thrive. Join to show your support! www.outsidefor5.com

Check out the sections "Tips for Successful Field Experiences" and "Birding with Binoculars" in the guide for some outdoor ideas!

04/12/2026

To help celebrate America’s 250th birthday, our friends at are inviting outdoor enthusiasts of all ages to take part in a new statewide hiking challenge designed to showcase the beauty, history, and accessibility of Ohio’s natural spaces. 🥾🌳🌼

Beginning now and continuing through the rest of 2026, visitors can participate in the America 250 – ODNR Challenge, choosing between a 25-mile family friendly option or a more ambitious 250-mile adventure. Both challenges encourage participants to explore designated trails in Ohio’s state parks, forests, nature preserves, and wildlife areas.

Both hiking challenges are available now through the end of the year for visitors exploring Ohio’s natural spaces.

For more info on how to participate, head to the challenge on OuterSpatial at https://bit.ly/4smb4YB. What a fun way to explore the number one state parks system in the country!