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Canku Ota |
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(Many Paths) |
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An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America |
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February 9, 2002 - Issue 54 |
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Defenders of Wildlife Essay Contests for Kids |
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KIDS STAND UP FOR SEA OTTERS! MONTEREY, Calif. -- Students in grades 6 through 8 will get a chance to do something positive for the threatened California sea otter in an essay contest announced today by Defenders of Wildlife. Writing on the topic "Why the Sea Otter is Important to California," student essayists will compete for first, second and third place prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250 savings bonds. Defenders has also developed new sea otter lesson plans that are available free to teachers, to compliment this initiative. "This essay contest will really help to raise middle school students' awareness about this important animal and how the sea otter impacts other species in the ecosystem off California’s coast," said Jim Curland, a Marine Associate with Defenders of Wildlife’s Monterey office. Once abundant in California with a population between 16,000 and 20,000, the sea otter is now a threatened species facing continued threats to its existence including disease, entrapment in fishing gear, and loss of habitat. Roughly 2,000 sea otters remain and are essential to the health of nearshore marine ecosystems off California. As a keystone species, sea otters play an essential role in the balance of these systems, contributing to the viability of a host of other species. In addition to prizes, winning essays will be posted on the Defenders of Wildlife Web site, and at the Carnivores 2002 conference to be held next November in Monterey, California. Get more information, including contest deadlines and submission information. The sea otter school lesson plans are designed for students in grades 6-8 and conform to California, Washington and Oregon standards. The lessons include both individual and group learning activities and are designed to integrate reading, writing, social studies and technology into the science curriculum. This sea otter teaching unit is available free of charge to all teachers and can be found on Defenders of Wildlife’s Web site for kids and teachers, Kids' Planet, under the "Teacher’s Table" link. Defenders of Wildlife also offers one hour classroom presentations on sea otter conservation and natural history; if interested, please contact Jim Curland at jcurland@defenders.org. KIDS GO TO BAT FOR FLORIDA BLACK
BEAR! OKEECHOBEE, Fla. -- Students in grades 3 through 7 will get a chance to do something positive for the Florida black bear in an essay contest announced today by Defenders of Wildlife. Writing on the topic "The Florida Black Bear -- An Umbrella Species," student essayists will compete for first, second and third place prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250 savings bonds. "We felt this contest would be an ideal way not only to encourage students to learn about the bears, but also about the important ways that different species depend on one another," said Defenders of Wildlife’s Education Associate, Yvonne Borresen. "Education is an important part of bear conservation, especially with younger audiences who may not know much about them." A unique subspecies of the American black bear, the Florida black bear is considered a species of special concern by the state of Florida. At the beginning of the 20th century, over 12,000 bears lived throughout the state from the panhandle to the Keys; today fewer than 2,000 bears remain in isolated populations -- less than 20 percent of the bear's historic range in the state. In urbanizing Florida, that range continues to shrink, with an estimated 20 acres of wildlife habitat lost to development every hour. Other threats to black bears include road-kills and poaching. With the black bear considered an "umbrella" species–a species that helps sustain other species in its ecosystem–the loss of black bears affects other animal populations as well. In addition to the prizes, winning essays will be posted on the Defenders of Wildlife Web site and at the Carnivores 2002 conference to be held next November in Monterey, California. Get more information, including contest deadlines and submission information at the Kids' Planet Contest site. |
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| Canku Ota is a free Newsletter celebrating Native America, its traditions and accomplishments . We do not provide subscriber or visitor names to anyone. Some articles presented in Canku Ota may contain copyright material. We have received appropriate permissions for republishing any articles. Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monetary gain to those who have expressed an interest. This is in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107. | ||
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Canku Ota is a copyright © 2000, 2001, 2002 of Vicki Lockard and Paul Barry. |
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The "Canku Ota - A Newsletter Celebrating Native America" web site and its design is the |
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Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 of Paul C. Barry. |
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All Rights Reserved. |
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