For the Love of Red Wolves
Our Learning and Engagement Specialist Tish Gailmard recently attended a Red Wolves Gala at Battle Academy. Inspired by the animal’s story, the Second Grade class created artwork and heartfelt gifts to benefit American Red Wolf conservation. Their enthusiasm all started with Tish’s outreach, and it grew into action for this critically endangered species. Read on to learn more about this special event.
I have a passion for the critically endangered American Red Wolf (Canis rufus), and luckily my work allows me to teach students and the public about this beautiful and vitally important southeastern native. A local Hamilton County school, Battle Academy, has second graders who recognize the importance of the American Red Wolf, and I’m fortunate enough to visit this school. I bring my Red Wolf bio-facts and loads of information to very excited and engaged students. The students are so excited as I bring out an American Red Wolf pelt, skull, radio collar and other bio-facts. These precious resources ignite lots of questions, and our discussion gets very lively. By the time I leave, the students are pumped about American Red Wolves, and the teachers don’t let that enthusiasm wane—they harness it with further American Red Wolf studies culminating in a gala.
I recently attended the Battle Academy second grade Red Wolf Gala, and to say I was impressed is an understatement. My first stop was a Red Wolf photo booth, then I was led into the classroom where I was greeted enthusiastically by students with, “Miss Tish, you came!”. As I looked around the room and took in all the work these students and their teachers had done, the tears began to flow. I saw a newly designed Red Wolf logo for t-shirts, handmade Red Wolf earrings, Red Wolf leather bookmarks, bracelets with Red Wolf studbook numbers on them, Red Wolf keychains, shoe charms and canvas paintings, informative Red Wolf posters and digitally-made American Red Wolf books. Each of these items were created by students, and many were made in the eLab with wood carving, leather work and 3D printing. The digital books were made with new software that allowed for written info and graphics, which created a beautiful book. As each person left the event, they were given a hand drawn thank-you note and handmade heart-shaped crayon, for the love of Red Wolves. This project was a cross-media, cross-curriculum and altruistic community hit. It was so moving to watch the classroom fill up with students of all ages, parents, family and staff eagerly buying students’ creations while learning about the American Red Wolf.
It’s always a good day if I can touch one person with environmental education, and this day—it was a home run.
Helping students learn how each animal in our environment performs ecosystem services that keep our environment healthy is a critical component to environmental education. As an apex predator, the balance of the entire ecosystem rides on the withers of this spectacular southeastern native. The American Red Wolf is a vital species who deserves our respect and our ability to provide them with everything they need to perform their job. These young students fully accepted that responsibility by putting their passion into action. I am so proud to be part of this grass roots effort and watching empowered students make a difference. My hope is they will carry this passion close to their hearts for the rest of their lives.
The students’ study of American Red Wolves will culminate in a field trip to see Reflection Riding’s Red Wolves and to present us with a check from the proceeds of their gala! Stay tuned to learn the amazing amount of money these young conservationists raised!
If you are interested in supporting our mission at Reflection Riding through a fundraiser, please reach out to our Director of Development Susan Day at susan@reflectionriding.org.
Thank you so much for helping us connect people with nature—together, we’re building a resilient future!
