Wings of Wonder^SM

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Wings of Wonder When Learning Takes Flight^SM

Wings of Wonder is a site-based environmental education program developed by and for Corporate Lands for Learning sites. This unique inquiry-based education program explores migratory wildlife, such as birds and butterflies, and can be customized to any WHC member site that provides habitat for birds, monarch butterflies or other migratory wildlife. By studying their local environment, students can connect their local habitat to the global ecosystem and communicate with young scientists at other CLL sites. To participate in the Wings of Wonder program, contact WHC’s Education & Outreach Program Manager.

By using corporate wildlife habitats as outdoor learning laboratories, students take part in standards-based activities that make classroom curricula come alive, participating in the real science and conservation efforts happening in their own neighborhoods. This program is an excellent way to integrate an education program into your site’s establishment of bird habitat, wildflower meadows or pollinator gardens. Adopt the Pollinator Friendly Practices Guidelines at your site – download the Guidelines now! 

Backyard Conservation provides excellent resources to undertake community-based ecological restoration at homes, schools, businesses and parks. With the emphasis on community, Backyard Conservation provides a vehicle for helping teachers and students of all ages meet and integrate curriculum requirements in areas such as science, math, social studies and language. For information on planting your own meadow, visit the State Resources where you will find native plants, nurseries plus more.

Teacher guides are also available online in the Backyard Lesson Plans section. Team Flight field journals are designed to inspire a sense of stewardship and respect for migratory birds and to empower students to take personal action to conserve their local habitats. The Team Monarch field journals may be used to introduce students to the concepts of butterflies, other pollinators and their meadow habitat.

Objectives of Wings of Wonder

• Create educational partnerships between corporate habitat teams and schools;         
• Demonstrate to the community the importance of "backyard" as well as international conservation;         
• Enhancement of habitat for monarchs and pollinators at PPG and migratory birds at Bayer, as well as other corporate sites;and          
• Educate teachers on effective use of outdoor classrooms.

The Monarch butterfly populations of North America make one of the most phenomenal migrations, traveling from areas as far north as southern Canada to areas as far south as Mexico. In order to keep these populations healthy and stable, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) developed the North American Monarch Conservation Plan (NAMCP). This comprehensive plan is an effort between Canada, the United States and Mexico to support and complement existing initiatives to help maintain healthy monarch populations and habitats throughout breeding sites, migratory routes and wintering sites.

The NAMCP identifies immediate threats to the population, as well as actions to promote monarch conservation. Immediate threats include habitat loss and degradation due to the deforestation and commercial development of the over-wintering grounds in Mexico and in Southern California. Other threats to breeding sites, migratory routes and over-wintering sites include insecticide use, loss of host plant species due to herbicides, climate change, disease, and parasitism.

In response to these dangers, the NAMCP suggests innovative enabling methods, comprehensive research and evaluation techniques, and educational initiatives in an effort to promote healthy and stable monarch populations. In order to continue this phenomenal natural occurrence, all three countries must work in cooperation to address these threats. 

Want to create monarch and other pollinator friendly habitat on your site? 
Learn more about monarchs and other pollinator friendly habitat practices by visiting the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign website at www.nappc.org or by viewing the Pollinator Friendly Practices guidelines.

Do you already have pollinator friendly habitat on site?
If your site practices exemplary pollinator friendly habitat management practices consider applying for the NAPPC WHC Pollinator Protection Award.