Welcome to the Wildlife Conservation and
Education website.
The Wildlife Conservation and Education Committee is pleased to offer two outstanding
events the first week of March at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh:
1) Take a Walk on the Wild Side
2) Dixie Deer Classics Outdoor Lore
3) NRA Youth Program's Wildlife Scavenger Hunt at the Dixie Deer ClassicLearn the
answers to these and many more questions about wildlife, hunter safety and much more!
Check Out These Sample Questions:
NRA
1). It is safe to point a gun at a person if the safety is on.
True/False
2). You should always be sure of your target and what is beyond it when firing a gun.
True/False
QDMA
3). Which one of these tracks was made by a white-tailed deer?

a. b. c. d.
NWTF
4). What are young turkeys called?
a. Poults
b. Fawns
c. Calves
d. Goslings
NCWRC
5). Hunting on private property without permission from the landowner is the right thing
to do.
True/False
WCWC
6) What insect is the number one cause of Lyme disease?
a. Spider
b. Tick
c. Grasshopper
d. Fly
Win great Prizes! Sign up in the Expo Building: Friday 11-9, Saturday 10-6
and Sunday 10-3.
The Wildlife Conservation through Education Committee - Who are we?
These fine events are the result of many months of collaborative work by a number of
dedicated volunteers and conservation organizations.
Most of us on the Committee have training in physical and/or social sciences and an
appreciation of the stocks and flows from aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
We are diverse in our preferences. Some like to bird watch while others like to fish,
hike, hunt, and/or take pictures. Some of us like to do it all. Some of us are from
educational institutions, others from government agencies, and still others from
non-governmental organizations.
All of us believe in a positive outdoor ethic. As Aldo Leopold, the father of wildlife
management said, "doing what is right when no one else is looking."
All of us believe in the importance of a well-rounded education, as education is intended
to provide a strong foundation on which individuals can begin nurture understanding,
formulate their own ideas, and develop support for policies, and engage in outdoor
recreation.
What are our views?
Our view is that there are many functions of ecological systems (including, provision of
oxygen, filtered water, and reduced soil erosion) including many recreational services.
Some ecological systems are in our own backyards. While other systems are in wetlands,
lakes, streams, fields, and forests. We believe that habitats and ecosystems are dynamic.
We distinguish early successional habitats, but also recognize old growth forests.
In addition, many of us are concerned with the decline in outdoor recreation activities
including the decline &/or risk of decline of revenues from user supported excise
taxes, fish and game stamps, license fees and non-game income tax check in programs. Those
revenues provide much of the funding for research, habitat acquisition, conservation
education, and enforcement of regulations.
Folks not on our committee are also concerned. Richard Louv's best seller, "Last
Child in the Woods" spoke of a malady affecting our youth: Nature Deficit Disorder.
The Wildlife Conservation through Education Committee wants to improve the understanding
of nature through objective education.
There are many spillovers from engaging in specific types of ethical outdoor recreation.
But, without an understanding of the physical and social sciences undergirding aquatic and
wildlife management, individuals will act in their own backyards, vote in the leisure time
activity market place and the public policy voting box as ill-informed consumers.
But, why should anyone care about the woods or streams? Well, wildlife and its habitat can
serve as environmental barometers. Here is an example, of a result from a melding of
physical and social science knowledge. Being informed on the connections amongst habitat
quantity and quality and costs, New York City residents chose to take financial steps to
maintain the quality of the upstate watershed. Why? ...So that drinking water could be
provided to New York City at lower cost. Adopting such a policy, would also enhance
recreational opportunities for bird watchers, hikers, hunters, and outdoor photographers.
In our view, wildlife conservation policy guided by ignorance and fears is divisive and
will not generate an enduring commitment to restoration and maintenance of wildlife
habitat and conservation of ecosystem functions and services. Too often wildlife
conservation is fraught with heartfelt vigorous and sometimes violent advocacy with
minimal understanding of the facts. Wildlife conservation policy guided by emotion alone
will not generate an effective and enduring conservation ethic.
What do we wish to achieve?
We designed each of these events to provide participants the following opportunities:
- To explore the issues that affect wildlife today
- To ask that they consider their roles as wildlife stewards
- To appreciate the critical roles that sports men and women play in creating and
maintaining sustainable wildlife and wildlife habitat
- To apply scientific theory and principles to real-world applications; and
- To understand the role that science plays in their everyday lives
"Take a Walk on the Wild Side"
These hands-on wildlife workshops are aimed at delivering an objective, science-based
foundation for wildlife conservation that will foster a child's interests in science and
the outdoors. Workshops will demonstrate application of scientific principles to
real-world wildlife issues that affect the student's community - rural, suburban, or
urban. Most workshops will follow select standard course of study objectives for 6th grade
science. Conservation challenge activities will also be provided relative to each workshop
topic as optional take-home activities, that may be used to extend the student's
understanding of the topics presented.
"Take a Walk on the Wild Side" is provided at without charge to middle and high
school students from public, private, and home school settings who apply via this website
and are subsequently confirmed to participate.
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"Dixie Deer Classic's Outdoor Lore"
Outdoor Lore is one of the several happenings within the Dixie Deer Classic (DDC). The
target audience for Dixie Deer Classic's Outdoor Lore is broader than that of the academic
workshops: youngsters and oldsters; hunters and non-hunters. Outdoor Lore builds upon and
extends the seminars/workshops in the academic event. Examples include roles of the
hunters and non-hunters in wildlife conservation habitat strategies, retriever training,
and wildlife photography It will also provide participants with introductory skills-based
training which is aimed at encouraging participation in outdoor sports - hunting and
wildlife observation. Topical issues of general interest are also on this list. Examples
include coyote predation of the white-tailed deer.
Participation in Outdoor Lore activities is open to any individual who is otherwise
attending the Dixie Deer Classic, and offered on a first come-first serve basis. Admission
to the DDC is free for those 12 and under. For those 13 and older, admission is $10 and
allows entry to the DDC. Youth Day offers half-priced admission to kids age 13-18 ($5).
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"NRA Youth Programs Wildlife Scavenger
Hunt at the Dixie Deer Classic"
Armed with a questionnaire and map showing the location of help stops (conservation
partners) along the trail, the registered youngsters search for the correct answers to
their questions. The questions deal with wildlife biology and conservation as well as
safety and outdoor ethics.There are two hunts: one offered pre-school and elementary
school youngsters; the other for middle and high school students. There is no charge for
the hunts. Youngsters register in the Expo Building at the DDC. The hunts are designed and
administered by NCSU's Leopold Wildlife Club. The first 500 youngsters completing the exam
receive a tee shirt, pin, literature, and a completion certificate. Youngsters completing
the hunt successfully can register for some special prizes to be awarded late Sunday
afternoon, March 7, 2010. Prizes include two 0.22 caliber rifles provided by Henry
Repeating Arms Company and presented by Dave Butz/ Dave is NRA Youth Programs Committee
Chair and a former NFL All-Pro Defensive Tackle. Dave will also be signing autographs on
March 6 and 7, 2010 at the DDC. |
Hope to see you there!
On behalf of the Wildlife Conservation through Education Committee
Allen Basala, Chair
Judy Gardner, Vice Chair
Workshops with
6th Grade Science Objectives
To Pre-Register
6th Graders Click Here |
Workshops with
9th-12th Grade Biology Objectives
To Pre-Register
High School Students Click Here |
- The North American Model of Conservation
- Let's Talk Turkey
- A Day in the Life of...Wild Work
- What's in My Backyard? Community Conservation
- Hands-on Soil Lab
- Quick-Frozen Critters...Adaptations Game
- Adaptation Artistry
- North Carolina Snakes
- The Hunter
- Maps, Compasses and the GPS*
- Field First Aid*
- The Ancient Art of Archery*
- Taxidermy Demonstration*
*No SCOS 6th Grade Science Objectives Met
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- A Day in the Life of...Wild Work
- Bottleneck Genes
- Going Native
- Carrying Capacity
- CURE - A Cooperative program for quail and songbirds
- Fisheries, Wildlife Management, and Economics
- Urban Deer Management
- Deer Crossing - Political, Social, Economic and Biological Aspects of Wildlife
Management
- North Carolina Snakes
- The Hunter
- Maps, Compasses and the GPS*
- Field First Aid*
- The Ancient Art of Archery*
- Taxidermy Demonstration*
*No SCOS 9th -12th 6th Grade Biology Objectives Met
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Questions?
Feel free to send us an e-mail or give us a call! Phone: 919/552-9449 (evenings)
E-mail: ncqdma@yahoo.com |
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