Tracks to the Future

Interdisciplinary – Service Learning Curriculum Using Wolf Education to Promote Common Core Standards Grades 3 – 8

If you’re an educator, please click HERE to view details about our July 2015 “Tracks to the Future” workshop for service credit on MyLearningPlan!

As citizens of the 21st century, our nation and world are at a crossroads when it comes to ensuring the future sustainability of our air, water, wild lands and wildlife for future generations. Ultimately, our nation’s future relies on a well-educated public to be wise stewards of the very environment that sustains us – now and for future generations. We invite educators to consider joining the effort!

In response to this call to action, schools and their community partners are the responsible agents for preparing the next generation to meet these challenges. Our children must acquire an awareness about threats to our natural treasures, and they must be taught conservation literacy – learning about and actively caring for the environment, understanding how human beings interact with and are dependent on different ecosystems, and developing critical-thinking skills to solve problems that affect America’s public lands and wildlife. Awareness and literacy can empower children with a fund of knowledge and the specific skills they will need to compete, collaborate, and participate as educated agents of change in our society.

“Interdisciplinary Curriculum in Wolf Education: Tracks to the Future” partners with educators in the implementation of a unique unit of study that affords elementary and middle school students differentiated opportunities to learn and master many of the required common core academic standards in Language Arts, Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies and the Arts while using the theme of wolf conservation as its integrating theme. It goals encourage students to pose and answer relevant questions about wolf recovery and conservation while they simultaneously acquire new knowledge, tools and the critical thinking skills that they will need as life-long learners, in general.

“Tracks to the Future” is an academically robust, relevant, and innovative “living curriculum.” It emphasizes cooperative learning, research and project-based learning, critical thinking and discussion, hands-on activities, and integrated service learning opportunities. Students develop and practice leadership skills by working in teams, listening to and accepting diverse opinions, solving problems, considering the long-term view, promoting actions that serve the greater good, and connecting with the community to make a difference.

Tomorrow’s leaders need to be equipped for tomorrow’s challenges. The Wolf Conservation Center has broken new ground by forging a commitment to help educate and motivate a literate generation of problem solvers and future decision-makers. In a world where it is increasingly difficult to engage student interest, Tracks to the Future offers an enriching way for both students and teachers to connect their appreciation of the natural world with academic learning and community service.

Please click HERE to view details about our “Tracks to the Future” workshop for service credit on MyLearningPlan!