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An innovative program that incorporates nature into learning is nearing the end of its first year in Springfield. KSMU’s Michele Skalicky has a report on the Springfield Public School’s WOLF program...

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WOLF

WOLF

WOLF

WOLF

WOLF

WOLF

WOLF

Students in WOLF—the Wonders of the Ozarks Learning Facility—never know exactly what adventure awaits them each week at school. This day they were sampling different kinds of meat cooked up by Missouri Department of Conservation staff. There was buffalo, deer, duck and even beaver.
Conservation agent Danton Letterman says there wasn’t anything they were afraid to try…

"They loved it. They weren't afraid to try anything, and they all really liked it."

WOLF is a program for Springfield Public School 5th graders from across the city. Students with good behavior records can apply and are chosen through a lottery system. Only between 45 and 50 students are chosen.
It’s an inquiry-based learning experience that allows students to explore a comprehensive curriculum through the context of nature and conservation. Springfield School district partners with Bass Pro and Wonders of Wildlife for the program. The classroom is in the old K-Mart building next to WOW.
As the end of the first year of WOLF nears, one of its teachers, Sue Dyle, looks back on the 1st year of the program…

"The program itself has been overwhelmingly successful with both the children and the parents and the school system and the community. The community support has just been more than we could have ever expected."

Dyle, who has taught in the Springfield School System for 20 years, is amazed at how eager the students in WOLF are to learn. She says it’s because they WANT to be there…

"One of the things that I've learned is that, if you give kids even just a little bit of what they already like to do, it just snowballs. They love it, and, if you can tie the things that you want them to learn into the things that they love to do, the motivation just grows exponentially, and I think that's been much more of a surprise than I thought."

WOLF follows the same 5th grade curriculum as all Springfield elementary schools. The difference is, much of it is taught both in an indoor AND outdoor setting. And students have been outdoors A LOT this year…

"We have done it all. We have been in the water at Bull Creek. We've been canoeing and kayaking. We've been snorkeling. We've done Stream Team investigations--looked at all the wildlife in the water and around the water. We've looked at all the plant life in and around the water, then we moved into forest habitats, and we've done forests from the inside out. We've looked at trees and flowers and all kinds of wildlife in the forests. We've done caving. We are right now doing backyard habitats."

Student Kevin Jean likes the field trips the best, especially ones that involve water. He says he’s learned a lot in WOLF...

"I've learned all about what's in water, why we do this and what wildlife is and why we have to protect Earth."

Caroline Langley explains what her favorite things have been so far…

"Goecaching and then canoeing and kayaking and snorkeling."

Dyle says they’ve had a tremendous response for next year’s program and she’s looking forward to her 2nd year at WOLF.

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