WoW! Wildlife on Wheels Takes Education Far Out
Thanks to generous grants and other donations, the Refuge debuted its Wildlife on Wheels (Wow) mobile classroom on December 12, 2020. WoW has been scheduled to visit Title-1 schools, conservation-minded events, and economically challenged and minority communities in the five-county area to teach about water quality, the ecosystem, wildlife, and other topics that meet the Refuge’s mission.
"Ding" has hired bilingual educators, who, along with volunteers and interns, staff the museum-quality, hands-on exhibits inside and outside WoW to maximize their inspirational learning potential. Teaching stations interpret mangrove ecosystems, water quality, water conservation, pollution and plastic, animal scats and tracks, Florida’s native animals, and wildlife sounds. Staff draw on knowledge gained in the classroom and design programs to complement Florida educational STEM requirements.
“Refuge staff has been wishing for a mobile education facility for many years, but has not been able to further the project due to staff and funding shortages,” said DDWS Executive Director Ann-Marie Wildman. “Now that the Society has found support to bolster the Refuge Education Team, the time is right to spread the Refuge message to those who are unable to visit ‘Ding’ Darling on their own and to schools too far away to bring here by bus.”
Anyone interested in making a tax-deductible donation to the WoW project can click HERE or contact Ann-Marie at 239-789-8991.
To schedule Wow to appear at your school, venue, or event, click HERE.
To donate in support of the WoW outreach mission, click HERE.
WoW STATS
- During the 2021-2022 school year, 7,060 Title-1 school students visited WoW.
- 3,340 people visited during community outreach events, including Refuge visits.
- That summer, the team visited five summer camps.
- During the 2022-2023 school year, WoW reached 7,625 Title-1 school students.
- 1,100 people visited WoW during community outreach events.
- Summer visits reached four camps and 570 students.