Schoolyard Habitats

Did you know that you can create a natural schoolyard habitat and have it certified by the National Wildlife Federation? A schoolyard habitat can attract birds, butterflies, and other wildlife nearby your school where children can observe and learn more about them without having to leave the safety of your own schoolyard. In order to create a habitat you will need to include some of each of the following:

• food sources, such as seeds and nectar
• water sources, such as a small pond or a bird bath
• places for cover, such as a thicket or a rock pile
• places to raise young, such as a nesting box or dense shrubs
• use sustainable gardening methods, such as compost and mulch

Go to http://www.nwf.org/schoolyard/howtoguide.cfm

for free, complete guidelines for your schoolyard project, including free pdfs about planning your habitat, native plants, composting, container gardening, as well as free articles about the schoolyard habitat movement. Turn your schoolyard into a miniature nature area, and join the hundreds of teachers who bring nature to life right outside their classrooms.