Engaging underserved students on National Wildlife Refuges

Teaching the underserved children of San Diego County to respect their local natural resources is paramount for many reasons, but especially because San Diego County has a great diversity of habitats and yet also has more threatened and endangered species than any other county in the continental U.S. We propose to bring our 3-part program�assembly, classroom program, and field trip�to five schools in San Diego County. In addition, an online curriculum will be developed to supplement the program and posted to the Zoo�s website, available to all teachers in downloadable .pdf format. The curriculum will enhance concepts learned, include additional resources for the classroom and will align with State Science Standards. We expect to motivate students to adopt a lifestyle which respects our natural resources and to make smart choices for our planet today and in the future.