Winter 2016 Sawtooth Legacy Quarterly

Page 50

SL

Big, Bad Business of Wolf Conservation

The methods of making that film didn’t matter to the public. The image was what we connected with. Most of us imagined crawling into that den. Out of that, the Wolf Education & Research Center was born, as home to those celebrity wolves that would never have a home in the wild because of their acclimation to stardom. Central to our relationship with those wolves was, and is, education. If we, and other wilderness education nonprofits, are not able to create inspiring, inviting, and informative opportunities, if we’re unable to capture the imagination of the public without one needing to “see to believe” or cuddle a wolf, then wolves and other large carnivores have a very uncertain future. In another twenty years, will we still have this great divide? Or will our work

close the gap by engaging folks who share a common and willingly-united front to steward our nation’s resources for a better future? Let me close this commentary with some lighter observations. We are making a difference. Those of us who remain committed to innovating our methods, to conflict resolution, and building bridges to the uninformed, indifferent and those holding alternate perspectives–we are learning how to reach vaster audiences with more dynamic and inclusive messages. And those messages remain rooted in the science–the fact of what we know and what we hope to avoid. As it’s our 20th year, we’ll take a little time to celebrate. But not too long, because there’s much at stake and we’ve got work to do.

Adopt a Classroom If we want a better outcome for the future, we have to go to where the future is. It’s in the classrooms and living rooms across North America. Our Classroom Adoption is the ideal way to usher in better and better ideas about conservation. That’s how you can make an immeasurable difference— Dear Wolf Valley Middle School, support a Classroom Adoption today. This educational gift is bein g sent to you as an encouragement to help you teach about important Here’s how it works. Your $50 issue s related to wolve s and other donation sends the great package preda tors. As a former stude nt shown here to the middle school at Wolf Valley Middle School, I’m of YOUR choice. We’ll do all the excit ed to help creat e future work and your gift will include a stewards of our wilderness. note from you expressing your Howling Regards, commitment to education about Kuckuc wolves.

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SL - WINTER 2016


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Winter 2016 Sawtooth Legacy Quarterly by Passport to Wildlife - Issuu