The Indianapolis Zoo wishes to inspire and engage Indiana Schools to take part in local conservation projects through Project-Based Learning and Service Learning projects. The Zoo will work with your school to provide resources and expertise to conduct local conservations projects in your communities.
Do you have a PBL project that ties directly to the Zoo, its habitats or animals? Fill out the contact form below to see if you qualify for a limited number of free field trips tickets specifically offered to schools taking part in PBL.
(As defined by Buck Institute for Education’s, BIE, website)
PBL is a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to a complex question, problem, or challenge.
Listed below are links to resources for the Indiana Conservation Challenge.
For questions or to share your Indiana Conservation Challenge Projects please contact us.
Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources (IDNR)
Ind. Endangered Wildlife by County including habitats – IDNR
Acres Land Trust – protects natural areas in northeast Indiana, southern Michigan and northwest Ohio
Audubon Society – Indianapolis Chapter
Butler University: Center for Urban Ecology
Central Indiana Land Trust – preserves natural areas in central Indiana
Conner Prairie – an outdoor museum featuring five historic areas, a museum center and 1400 acres
Environmental Education Association of Indiana
Earth Charter Indiana – includes two work programs: Sustainable Indiana 2016 and Youth Power Indiana
Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC)
Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Indiana Children and Nature Network
Indiana Dept. of Environmental Management
Indiana Master Naturalist Program
Indiana Natural Resources Foundation
Indiana Park and Recreation Association
Indiana Wildlife Rehabilitators
Indianapolis Prize – the biennial prize is the world’s leading award for animal conservation
IUPUI: Center for Earth and Environmental Science
Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District
Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab at Marian University
Red-tail Land Conservancy – preserves, protects, and restores natural areas and farm land in east central Indiana
Izaak Walton League of America – working to advance conservation, engage people in outdoor recreation, and safeguard natural resources for the future.
Izaak Walton League of America – Indiana Chapter
Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots – youth-led community action program to carry out locally and globally-based service projects addressing issues relevant in their communities.
Learn With Zoos – ZEBRA – Lessons on animal conservation.
Rachel Carson Council – promotes alternative, environmentally benign pest management strategies to encourage healthier, sustainable living.
Building Bridges to the Outdoors
SNAP: Science for Nature and People
IDNR – IN Amphibian Monitoring Program
Copperbellied Watersnake – US Fish & Wildlife Service
FrogWatch USA – Association of Zoos & Aquariums
Indiana Bass Federation Nation
Kirtland’s Snake – IUCN Red List
Michigan State University Extension
Lake Sturgeon – US Fish & Wildlife Service – Great Lakes Lake Sturgeon Collaboration
National Fishing In Schools Program
National Wildlife Federation – Wildlife Watch
Reconnecting To Our Waterways – a grassroots initiative designed to reclaim the benefits of Indianapolis’ waterways
RiverXchange – for 3/4th grade students to learn about water resources
5 Gyres – working to restore healthy, plastic-free oceans
Children and Nature Network – creating a world in which every child can play, learn and grow in nature
Cornell Lab – User’s Guide for Evaluating Citizen Science
Learn With Zoos – lessons, conservation and resources from Zebra, the Saint Louis Zoo and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Nature Explore – transforms children’s lives through research-based outdoor classroom design services, educator workshops, and natural products
Nature Works Everywhere – presented by The Nature Conservancy – lesson plans and resources for learning about how nature works
United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency – Environmental education page
United States Fish & Wildlife Service – National Conservation Training Center
Buck Institute for Education – Why Project Based Learning
Edutopia.org – Project Based Learning
Magnify Learning (formerly Indiana Collaborative for Project Based Learning)
Scistarter – Citizen science projects from around the world
generationOn – service learning and PBL resources
Project Learning Tree – environmental improvement project funding through PLT educators
African Wildlife Foundation (Cheetah)
Defenders of Wildlife (Cheetah)
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) (Cheetah)
Wildlife Conservation Network (Cheetah)
Wildlife Conservation Society (Cheetah)
International Elephant Foundation
World Wildlife Fund (Elephants)
Defenders of Wildlife (Elephants)
African Wildlife Foundation (Elephants)
The Nature Conservancy (Save the Elephants)
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) (Elephant Conservation)
World Wildlife Fund (Orangutan)
Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP)
Orangutan Foundation International
Orangutan Species Survival Plan
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NNAA) (Bottlenose dolphin)
Defenders of Wildlife (Dolphin)