South Georgia DNR Biologists Taking Students To School

Educating customers to exactly what a business does is an important component of every business model. WRD Fisheries is no different. The truth be told, however, WRD Fisheries employees find educating youth on how it manages fish especially fun.

Fisheries staff have made youth education an important responsibility in that education effort. That means taking the department’s message—and some fish and various wildlife species—to classrooms across our state.

On any given schoolroom visit, Fisheries staff will rotate hundreds of kids through three or four educational stations, with youth spending 10 to 15 minutes at each station.

“At the end of the day, kids can connect with these animals far beyond what only reading about them would provide,” said Jim Page, a senior fisheries biologist in south Georgia. “Equally important, they walk away with a better understanding of how they can participate in making better decisions to ensure that all of us get to enjoy these natural resources for decades to come.

“So far in 2021, WRD and CRD (Coastal Resources Division) staff in south Georgia have partnered to speak to more than 4,500 students and teachers throughout our area.”

Jim says in this era when youth are constantly bombarded by an endless supply of electronic gizmos and gadgets, WRD staff have recognized that it is imperative that today’s youth be introduced to the outdoors. To accomplish that, WRD fisheries staff, in partnership with its sister CRD division, visit elementary, middle, and high school students throughout the state to teach them about native fresh- and saltwater fish and wildlife; the gear used by WRD and CRD staff when conducting fish sampling; and non-native, or invasive, animals that have been introduced into Georgia that impact and threaten our native animals and fauna.

Jim says it is important to note that these efforts by WRD and CRD staff are just a portion of the overall education efforts by the DNR. The department operates several education centers throughout the state that offer learning opportunities.

“One of our flagship educational facilities is the Go Fish Education Center in Perry,” Jim said. “At the Go Fish Education Center, visitors can see multiple species in their natural habitat, do some hands-on learning at the interactive exhibits, learn about the management of aquatic species around the state, view a working fish hatchery and improve their fishing skills in the on-site catch pond.”

FOR MORE INFO:

• Go Fish Education Center: www.gofisheducationcenter.com or call 478.988.6701. 

• GADNR Education Centers: www.georgiawildlife.com/alleducationcenters. 

• South Georgia: Want to arrange for a school visit from WRD and/or CRD? Visit www.georgiawildlife.com/ans#Education or call 912.285.6485.