EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was originally published on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website.
RITTMAN – The William J. Robertson Nature Preserve and the Morton Salt Environmental Education Lab in Wayne County was recently dedicated as a WILD School Site, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
Wild School sites are supplementary education programs created by schools where students, teachers, and the community can come together and learn about wildlife and the environment.
This site is the 207th WILD School Site in Ohio and the 10th in Wayne County.
The 210-acre property is a testament to the harmony of nature and education.
Its extensive native plantings transform it into a living laboratory where visitors can learn about pollinators, native birds, and sustainable practices such as solar power, rain barrels, locally sourced foods, and hydroponics.
Portions of the site lie on reclaimed land, and abundant water features, including kayak launches, make outdoor recreation widely available.
Local teachers and students use the nature preserve and environmental education lab for outdoor experiential learning.
Core subjects such as math, science, social studies, art, and music can be learned through hands-on involvement with the natural sciences.
More than three miles of accessible walking paths give students and visitors further exposure to the diverse wildlife of the preserve.
The WILD School Sites program, administered in Ohio by the Division of Wildlife, is considered an action extension of the national Project WILD program.
Any educational property used by students, educators, and the local community as a place to learn about and benefit from wildlife and the environment can be certified.
The sites function within the premise that every site, regardless of size and location, can provide outdoor educational opportunities that can and should be part of an integrated environmental education program.
WILD School Sites that demonstrate program development and site enhancement consistent with the premises outlined in this program are eligible for certification as an official Ohio WILD School Site.
Learn more about WILD School Sites and outdoor education opportunities at wildohio.gov.