Scott Stankowski, July 17, 2003

Teacher and Sportsman is ‘Wild About Wisconsin Turkeys’

            Scott Stankowski has turned his passion for wild turkeys into a master’s degree and a curriculum for Wisconsin teachers.

            A science teacher at Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids, Stankowski recently completed his graduate studies in Natural Resources and Environmental Education at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.  As part of his studies, he developed a teaching manual to supplement educational materials that the National Wild Turkey Federation provides to schools.

            “The turkey boxes provided by the NWTF are based on wild turkeys in South Carolina,” Stankowski said.  “The wild turkey population in Wisconsin is different in many ways, and I wanted to provide information and lessons specific to our turkeys.”

            The manual contains background information about Wisconsin’s wild turkeys and twelve lessons about turkeys.  The lessons are designed for all educational levels, kindergarten through grade 12, and their scope goes beyond science.  There are turkey lessons in the areas of art, technical education, math, English, and social studies.

            An avid turkey hunter and President of the Central Wisconsin Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Stankowski’s idea for the manual was a result of his desire for a useful Wisconsin-based turkey curriculum.  “Wild turkey restoration is a huge success story; including these lessons in the curriculum can really enhance the students’ learning experience.” 

            Stankowski used a team approach to develop the manual.  Using a grant from the NWTF, he formed a panel of nine teachers from the Wisconsin Rapids School District whose task was to write lessons that were hands-on, covered all educational levels, met Wisconsin academic and environmental education standards, and were specific to Wisconsin’s wild turkey population.  Colleagues from Stankowski’s Master’s degree program at UWSP field tested the lessons in their own classrooms and provided him with valuable feedback.  Finally, one of Scott’s students used publishing software to type and format the lessons to give the manual a professional look.

            Wisconsin’s NWTF provided funds for twenty-five manuals to be published and included in the turkey education boxes.  Stankowski presented a workshop about using the lessons at last years Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers conference.  He discussed some of the contents of the box – a video, CD-rom, bulletin board materials.  He also demonstrated the variety of lessons included in his supplemental manual including an art lesson where students draw turkeys in the style of their favorite artist and a tech education project where students design and construct a mounting board for wild turkey feathers and beards.

Teachers who attended the workshop received the NWTF turkey education boxes, including the Wisconsin supplement.

            The teaching manual is now in the hands of the NWTF officials in South Carolina who are working with Stankowski to secure more funds to publish additional manuals.  Scott was hopeful he would obtain a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources grant that utilizes money from the sale of turkey stamps, but with the current state of the budget, priority was given to WDNR projects.  He is optimistic that the NWTF will obtain funds to publish more manuals so that many more Wisconsin schools will have access to this valuable resource.

Teachers interested in getting more information about the M.S. Degree Program in Environmental Education for Teachers at UW Stevens Point can contact Tim Byers, Outreach Program Manager, at (715) 346-4176.

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