The 4-H Wildlife Project is for any youth interested in the animals that live around them, whether they are exploring urban wildlife in their cities, rural wildlife in the forests, or anywhere in between. This includes exploring the world of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, and amphibians in many environments, ecosystems, and habitats. This includes learning about their adaptations to human-made environments and the impact humans have had on species thriving, moving out of their native areas, or dying out. Conservation, leave no trace, and environmental stewardship are all also areas youth in this area will discover.
Objectives
Youth will:
- Learn about both native and invasive wildlife species in their area
- Gain an understanding of the role of humans in habitat preservation, destruction, and encroachment
- Identify wildlife species in their own backyard
- Learn how to leave no trace when exploring ecosystems and observing wildlife
4-H Wildlife Curriculum
Available from the Extension office or online.
Wildlife Science Level 1 Digital Download
The Wildlife Science curriculum is for youth who enjoy learning about wildlife and exploring their habitats. Learn about mammals, birds, fish, and herptiles and the role humans play in conservation and wildlife management. Level 1 introduces the wildlife groups: mammals, birds, fish, and herptiles. Youth will learn about the similarities and differences among these groups and then study each one.
Wildlife Science Level 2 Digital Download
In Level 2, youth explore more complex wildlife topics, such as habitats, conservation, and signs of wildlife.
Wildlife Science Level 3 Digital Download
Activities in Level 3 are divided into chapters based on how youth might use the information they’ve learned—as a homeowner, resident of a watershed, food and fiber producer (farmer), mayor, teacher, or legislator. This manual is advanced and includes significant research and development of a wildlife habitat.
Wildlife Science Facilitator’s Guide Digital Download
The Facilitator’s Guide is for all three levels. This guide contains activity facilitation and answers as well as a listing of the Next Generation Science Standards by activity.
Washington 4-H Records, Forms, and Guides
For youth members
Coming soon!
For adult helpers and club leaders
Coming soon!
Helpful Resources
Activity Ideas
This fun bingo game comes with enough pieces for 2-6 players and promises to make learning about Wildlife fun! Players select picture boards and place a chip over the corresponding image as cards are read aloud by the caller. Each card has educational facts about wildlife. The first person to cover the selected pattern and yell bingo wins!
Observing Birds / Bird Watching – Nature Lab (February 2021), The Wild Center (PDF)
Its time to find a window or head outside to search for some birds. Try looking in trees, bushes or better yet a bird feeder! Once you find some take a few minutes to watch them. What do you think they are they doing? And why?
4-H Friday Fun! DIY Birdfeeders – The University of Maine (YouTube video)
4-H Friday Fun! is a series of at-home activities for parents and kids. In this video, learn how to build a bird feeder with an orange and some yarn. Produced by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
The PDF instructions are available through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension website.
How to Build Homes for Wildlife – Iowa State University Extension (YouTube playlist)
Designs for creating your own projects for wildlife or for people who enjoy the outdoors. This series includes how to build a bird box, a wood duck box, and a bat box, as well as a bench for you as you observe nature!
Animal Signs – University of Minnesota Extension
In this lesson, youth learn different categories of animal sighs and how these signs relate to animal behaviors to help them identify wildlife living in their environment.
Washington Specific Reference Material
Yakima County 4-H Amphibians & Reptiles Project
Yakima County 4-H Environmental Stewardship Project Areas
Species Fact Sheets – Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
A comprehensive site with fact sheets for dozens of species living in the State of Washington.
Invasive Species – Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
An invasive species is a plant, animal, or other organism introduced to an area outside of its native range, usually by humans, which negatively impacts the economy, environment, and health. Invasive species affect all of us, whether we realize it or not. By learning more about invasive species in Washington, you can help prevent the next invasion!
Washington Invasive Species Council
List of fauna of Washington – Wikipedia
Other Reference Material
From 4-H Programs
Leave No Trace – Wisconsin 4-H (PDF)
From Higher Education Institutions
From Related Organizations, Journals, and Professionals
Beaver Dam Challenge – The Wild Center (PDF)
Building a dam that holds back water looks easy – until you try it yourself!
Nature Lab: Animals and Ice – The Wild Center (YouTube video)
This week we will explore another form of frozen water – ice! We’ll take a look at some ways that humans and animals use this form of solid water in the Adirondack winter. This video also provides an introduction to the activity Science on Ice: Moving Water with String – Nature Lab (January 2021), The Wild Center (PDF)
Nature Lab: Animals and Snow – The Wild Center (video)
Join Derek to explore how small rodents, snowshoe hares, and North American river otters use snow to their advantage as we continue our examination of water in the Adirondack winter.
Nature Lab: Intro to Marshes – The Wild Center (video)
Marshlands are ecosystems common throughout the Adirondacks. But do you know what makes a marsh a marsh? Explore the Raquette River Oxbow with Derek and Kayleigh to discover the plants and animals that thrive in marshes. Then, check out the DIY activity below!
Nature Lab: Marsh Animals – The Wild Center (video)
Join Derek, Morgan and Kayleigh as they head out to the marsh to learn more about animals that call these amazing ecosystems home. Then, can you create your own marsh creature? Check out the at-home activity below.
Nature Lab: Beavers – The Wild Center (video)
Join Morgan for a trip along the Raquette River to discover how beavers use mud, sticks, leaves, grasses and a number of other materials to create dams that change the flow of water to raise water levels in a wetland. Then, can you build your own dam? Check out the at-home activity below.
- Kits, Projects, and Activities from National 4-H
National 4-H Environmental Education Curriculum Collection
Discover 4-H Box – Outdoor Exploration
The Discover 4-H Box – Outdoor Exploration is all about exploring the outdoors while learning more about wildlife, birds, and the insects and creatures that keep our environment thriving. This kit includes tools to learn as well as provide an introduction to several 4-H curricula available on Shop 4-H. This kit provides four activities to give youth a glimpse into entomology and bird projects, and may even spark a new hobby!
What’s included in the Bugs and Birds Discover 4-H Box:
1- Binoculars
1 – Birdhouse
1 – Bug Catcher
1 – Paint
1 – Paintbrush Set
1 – Activity Guide with four insect and bird related activitiesGrab your crayons or paint and get started on this birdhouse activity. It is made from 3 layers of white cardboard with double-sided waterproofing for durability. There is a punch out clover shaped window on one side and a punch our door on the other. This birdhouse is pre-creased for easy assembly, and include a string-hole and string to hang it outside.
Learn how to play in nature while protecting it at the same time.
Wherever you live, you’re never too far from a beautiful outdoor space that you can visit and enjoy. Even cities have parks you can explore and get a taste of nature.
But it’s important to remember whenever we’re enjoying the great outdoors, that we’re interacting with living things, and the habitats of various animals. In this activity, we will learn how to ‘Leave No Trace’ when we take our fun into the outside world. Requires a free Clover account to access lesson plans.