Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Education Programs
Oklahoma has a rich outdoor heritage which has been passed from generation to generation. Although Oklahoma is considered by many to be a rural
state, a high percentage of the population resides in urban areas.
The Department's education programs were developed to educate Oklahoma's youth and adults about wildlife conservation. These programs
(Hunter Education, Aquatic Resources Education and Project WILD) are offered across the state.
Outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, camping and wildlife watching can be enjoyed by the entire family so take time to learn about Oklahoma's vast natural resources and attend a course near you.
Hunter Education
Hunter education courses cover firearms handling and safety, game laws, survival, muzzleloading, bowhunting, wildlife management and hunter responsibility.
Requirements:
Anyone hunting in Oklahoma who was born on or after Jan. 1, 1972, upon reaching 16 years of age must exhibit a hunter safety certificate from Oklahoma or another state to purchase a hunting license or permit. Persons who have been honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces, currently on active duty in the United States Armed Forces or a member of the National Guard are exempt from the hunter education requirements.
If you are under 16, you must successfully complete a hunter education course prior to purchasing a deer gun or primitive firearms permit or hunting large game (deer, elk, antelope with a firearm).
If you are under 16 and will not be hunting large game with a firearm, hunter education certification is not required, but recommended.
Type and Length of Course:
The standard 8-hour course is offered throughout the year. The Department also offers home study courses which allow students to complete a hunter education work- book for six hours of course credit and then complete a four-hour classroom session. Both the
8-hour course and the home study courses are taught by game wardens and volunteer instructors.
Finding a Course:
To find a course in your area look us up on the web at www.wildlifedepartment.com. The on-line schedule of classes is updated weekly. You can also check the local sports page in your newspaper or watch the OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA television show on OETA.
Interested in Volunteering: If you would like to pass on your hunting traditions to young hunters, call 4051 521-4636 and receive information on becoming a volunteer instructor or contact you local game warden.
Hunter Education Contact Numbers
Information & Education Division Coordinator 405/522-4572
Northeast 918/744-1039
Southeast 918/297-0150
Aquatic Resources Education Program
In 1988 the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation developed the Aquatic Resources Education Pro- gram (AREP) as a means to promote the sport of fishing and aquatic resource awareness and give youth, regardless
of family situation, an opportunity to learn about Oklahoma's aquatic environments and how to fish.
Objectives of the program are:
• To increase the understanding, appreciation, and awareness of Oklahoma's aquatic resources; and
• To facilitate the learning of angling skills, outdoor ethics, and sportfishing opportunities in the state.
Check the Wildlife Department's web site www.wildlifedepartment.com for dates, locations and times of youth fishing clinics presented across the state.
If you, your group, or school are interested in participating in this program or if you would like more information, please contact the Aquatic Education Coordinator or Information & Education Specialist in your region of the state.
AREP CONTACT NUMBERS
Information & Education Division
Statewide Coordinator 405/521-3855
Northeast 918/744-1039
Western-half 580/529-2795
Southeast 918/297 -0150
Interested in Volunteering:
If you would like to pass on your fishing traditions, call 405/521-4636 and receive information on becoming certified as a volunteer instructor.
Project WILD
Project WILD is "Wildlife in Learning Design" -an award-winning wildlife education program emphasizing awareness, appreciation and
understanding of wildlife and natural resources. It is an exciting curriculum that helps teachers and youth leaders teach math, science, social studies, art, language arts and physical education while teaching the importance of our environment.
The core of Project WILD are two K-12 activity guides with over 150 activities. The guides are presented in a lesson-plan format which help incorporate wildlife-related concepts into the classroom curriculum or youth group programs. The activity guides are distributed during six-hour, hands-on workshops designed to explain how activities can be integrated into an existing curriculum or program. A minimal fee is charged for the workshop.
Sponsors:
In Oklahoma, Project WILD is sponsored by the Department of Wildlife Conservation and
Conservation Commission.
Staff Development:
The workshop meets staff development credit requirements for teachers. It also meets credit requirements for day care center in-services. Boy and girl scouts, 4-H, Camp Fire and other youth group leaders have found the curriculum very useful.
Several workshops are offered each year for college credit at many of Oklahoma's colleges and universities.
For a list of scheduled workshops or additional information, call 405/521-6704
landerson@odwc.state.ok. us.
Wildlife Department Education Partnerships
Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) is for young hunter education course graduates. The program focuses on personal improvement of hunting related skills. For more information contact Paul Conrady at 405/341-6374 or
E-mail: conrady @oklahoma.net Web site: www.oksportscol.org
Women in the Outdoors (WITO) is a cooperative education program between ODWC and NWTF for women interested in learning more about the out-a-doors. One-day work shops include topics on beginning shotgunning, fishing, turkey hunting, dutch oven cooking and other outdoor re- lated activities. For more information contact: Women's Regional Coordinator 15520 W. Lyons Cr. Rd. Junction City, KS 66441 785/257-3335
E-mail: bjnwtf@tctelco.net
Web site: www.nwtf.org