Teachers’ and Educators’ Corner

Teaching about nature is a vital component to connect people with wildlife and wild places. As teachers and educators, you already do so much to work toward building skills and knowledge in our youth and communities. Here at Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife we want to help you incorporate nature and wild lessons into your already existing curriculum and lessons. These resources are available to help you create meaningful connections to nature, help nurture a sense of awareness and responsible behavior, and increase knowledge, skills, and a commitment to wildlife and wild places. Whether you are a school teacher, daycare provider, nature center employee, sportsmen club member, scout leader, or another interested educator, these resources are here for you.

Curriculum and Activity Guides

Education Loaner Trunks

Field Trip Opportunities

Hooked on Fishing – Not on Drugs

Educational Resources and Materials

Outreach Requests

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife staff have many different skills and knowledge. They are often asked to attend, speak, and present at fairs, shows, special events, and to classes. If you are interested in having a biologist, educator, warden, or other MDIFW staff attend your event or speak to your group please reach out to us.
There are a variety of topics we can discuss:

  • Fisheries or wildlife biology
  • Natural history of Maine’s fish and wildlife
  • Outdoor skills (hunting, fishing, map and compass, safety, etc.)
  • Habitat management (reasons and methods used)
  • Career experiences of MDIFW staff
  • And more!

For all outreach requests, please fill out this Outreach and Education Request Form.

If you have additional questions, please email education.IFW@maine.gov

Educational Trip Leader Permit

Are you interested in leading outdoor educational trips for your school, college, or university that would otherwise require a registered Maine guide? Learn more about educational trip leader permits, the application process, and more.

Additional Resources

There are many great resources on the MDIFW webpage, but here are a few suggested areas to use with your classes.

  • Participate in a Community Science project! There are many ways that you and your students can be a part of real scientific research.
  • Learn about fish and wildlife and how different species are managed. This information can be used to help with reports, scout badges, in science class, language arts, and other interdisciplinary units.
  • Habitat Outreach Program. Take a look at habitats of different species across the state of Maine with this interactive map as part of the Beginning with Habitat program.  This could be part of a local conservation learning project or even specific species for a school project, scout badge, or personal learning opportunity.
  • Learn about or visit a Wildlife Management Areas. Learn about the wildlife management areas near you, and possibly plan a visit there to take a closer look at different habitats and animal species.
  • Check out our blog for recent project updates.
  • Listen to the Department’s podcast, Fish + Game Changers, at mefishwildlfie.com/changers.