Educational Programs

School Groups

Educating our children — the next generation — about animal and environmental conservation is the most effective method of protecting wildlife and the natural resources that we collectively rely on for survival. Master Naturalist Dabney Bowen works with children of all ages through educational programs designed for specific grade levels. These programs cover a myriad of environmental and natural science topics that can be customized to complement lesson plans.

Call of the Wild CT also works with Connecticut Audubon, Mill River Wetland Committee, and Fairfield Public Schools to author and deliver science curriculum, hands-on field studies and classroom workshops regarding wildlife, environmental science, river basin and estuary systems to children in grades K-7.

Garden Clubs

Creating biodiverse habitat has the most significant immediate impact on sustaining local wildlife populations. Master Naturalist Dabney Bowen can educate garden club members on topics such as creating garden biodiversity, invasive species, the wildlife food web, establishing pollinator gardens, how to mitigate wildlife disturbance, and gardening tips for a healthy habitat.

Scout Troops

Call of the Wild CT can assist your scout troop earn nature and wildlife related badges, fulfill electives, achieve “try-its”, and satisfy wildlife and naturalist requirements. Workshops are custom-tailored to meet the specific requirements of your scouts’ needs, and can be scheduled to accommodate your troop calendar.

Civic Groups

Municipal leaders are often the promulgators of widespread change. Call of the Wild CT helps government officials and policymakers understand ecology and the importance of local conservation efforts. We are available to meet with planning & zoning, land conservation, solid waste, and building officials to discuss specific properties and projects, to advise on conservation programs, or to gain a more general understanding of the value of environmental conservation in their cities, towns and counties.

Recreation

Guided Hikes

We seek to connect people with nature. Fairfield County is home to more than 500 miles of marked hiking trails that wind through dense forests, woodlands, coastal marshlands, shrublands, grasslands, and meadows. In cooperation with municipal commissions, land trusts, and conservation organizations, Call of the Wild CT offers educational guided hikes for private groups (ten or less). Hikes can be tailored to focus on a variety of themes such as geological and agricultural history, biodiversity and ecology, and species identification.

Advocacy

Help Effect Change

We are all stakeholders in the future of our environment; the vanishing wilderness around us supports all life on earth, including our own. Call of the Wild CT works diligently to work with local officials, consumers, property owners, and developers to protect and conserve our local natural resources and wildlife for the benefit of all living organisms.

Intervention

Make a Difference

As we continue to deplete natural resources and reduce wilderness habitat, we create hazards for wildlife trying to navigate our bricks-and-mortar world. If you witness wildlife that is injured, behaving strangely, or in imminent danger due to human activity, we can help evaluate the situation and initiate the rehabilitation process in partnership with licensed wildlife and predatory bird rehabilitation organizations throughout Connecticut.