FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2011
 

MANSION DAY SCHOOL TO BE NAMED A “WILD SCHOOL SITE”
Elementary school certified as a WILD School Site
         

Columbus, OH – Mansion Day School will be dedicated as an official WILD School Site by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife on Tuesday, October 18th at 10:00 am.

The WILD School Site program was established by the ODNR Division of Wildlife in 1994 to encourage schools to take action in order to improve their school yard habitat for wildlife while using the site to learn lessons in the many subjects of their curriculum. Since then over 100 school sites statewide have been certified, with Mansion Day School becoming the 118th and the 11th in Franklin County.  The WILD School Site certification serves as recognition for the teachers’ and students’ hard work.   
The students and staff at Mansion Day School have created a butterfly and salsa garden on the grounds which the students plant, tend, water, and harvest.  Participation in this ongoing project not only creates a more pleasant school environment but also provides much needed wildlife habitat. The students and staff have plans to expand the site to help control soil erosion, add more habitat and learning opportunities.
All of the projects have served as a basis for various classroom lessons, a main component of the WILD School Sites program.  Science, math, and language arts are highlighted. 

The Wild School Sites program is considered an action extension of the national Project WILD program.  Any school property used by students, teachers, and the school community as a place to learn about and benefit from wildlife and the environment can be certified.  The sites function within the premise that every school, regardless of size and location, can provide outdoor educational opportunities that can and should be part of an integrated environmental education program.  WILD School Sites that demonstrate program development and site enhancement consistent with the premises outlined in this program are eligible for certification as an official Ohio WILD School Site.

For more information on the WILD School Site program, Project WILD, and grants visit us on the web at www.wildohio.com or call 1-800-WILDLIFE to be connected with you District Office.

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For Further Information Contact:
Karen Norris, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(614) 644-3925
-or-
Bethany Filipow, Mansion Day School
(614) 258-4449