New Wildlife Education Center on NC State’s Centennial Campus

Where can you go to learn about the natural habitats of the Piedmont, its species of plants, insects, animals and fish? Where can you go to experience some of the latest technologies used by wildlife scientists to study wildlife? The Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Education.

Over the past thirty years, the landscape of the North Carolina Piedmont has dramatically changed. Natural and agricultural areas have been absorbed by the cities of the Piedmont and transformed to accommodate the majority of North Carolina’s population. This change has had a tremendous impact on wildlife habitat and as a result, wild animals must either adapt to living in close proximity to humans or relocate.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is charged with the responsibility of managing and conserving the wildlife resources of the state while providing and enriching educational opportunities. As a reflection of their mission, the NC WRC planned their new headquarters on N.C. State University’s Centennial Campus to be an example of sustainability in an urban environment. Two acres surrounding the building demonstrate methods for enhancing wildlife habitats and limiting environmental impacts, both terrestrial and aquatic.

The Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Education is one of three wildlife education centers created by the NC Wildlife Resource Commission’s Division of Conservation Education and is housed in the NC WRC’s new headquarters. When completed, visitors can access a video and exhibits on changing urban habitats. The center features two classrooms, a discovery lab, distance learning studios and a gift shop. The outdoor exhibits include a wetland and rain gardens, an outdoor classroom, a nature trail, an orienteering course, and eventually a fishing pier on Lake Raleigh.

The Center currently offers wildlife-related classes, workshops and programs for K-12 teachers and students, higher education faculty and students, and the general public. Programming is free of charge unless otherwise noted and can be catered to your group’s specific goals and objectives.

Group Programs are offered to groups of 10 or more. Programs are scheduled at each group’s convenience and generally last from one to three hours, depending on the topic and activities. By incorporating technology used in the field and in the classroom, students cover multiple curriculum objectives and gain practical skills. Some of our most popular programs are: Fred the Fish, Living Downstream, Snakes, Piedmont Habitats, Animal Communications, and Home Sweet Home.

Various Special Event Programs are offered throughout the year. The events change monthly and can be viewed on NC WRC’s website. Pre-registration is required for these classes. The center also accommodates small wildlife-related conferences sponsored by North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission employees.

The commission also offers options for those who would like to participate in programs, but are unable to visit the center. Schools with basic videoconferencing tools can schedule interactive Distance Learning Programs on a variety of wildlife themes. All necessary materials for each program are shipped your site prior to the scheduled program date. Hands-on activities correlated to the NC Standard Course of Study encourage students to think critically about wildlife topics.

For a list of programs currently available or for more information, please contact the Distance Learning Coordinator. All distance learning programs are free, unless otherwise stated.

Outreach Programs are another option for adults who cannot visit the center. Programs include Project WILD, Project WILD Aquatic, Advanced Project WILD, CATCH workshops and Outdoor Skill Experiences. Workshops are facilitated across the state in various locations by the Regional Education Specialists. Workshops can also be scheduled at your facilities. You can find a list of programs and contact information for Regional Education Specialists through NC WRC’s website.

In some workshops, participants receive a curriculum guide to use with students. The guides contain more than 150 hands-on activities that focus on aquatic wildlife and natural resources. Each activity describes learner objectives and methods, provides background information and identifies materials needed. The interdisciplinary activities use wildlife as tools for teaching math, science, English, art, physical education, history and other subjects.

These workshops are approved by the NC Department of Public Instruction. Participants may receive one to three CEU credits, depending on the workshop. All curriculum guides and materials’ cost are covered by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

For information about the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and the Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Education, please visit our website at www.ncwildlife.org or contact one of the following:

Jessica Ball, Program Coordinator
919.707.0203
jessica.ball@ncwildlife.org

Susannah Thompson, Distance Learning Coordinator
919.707.0206
susannah.thompson@ncwildlife.org

Tanya Poole, Regional Education Specialist
336.260-6719
tanya.poole@ncwildlife.org