Muncie, Indiana - Pheasants Forever (PF) announces a new joint partnership called Schoolyard Habitats designed to establish working outdoor classrooms for students in central Indiana. The areas will create environments that allow students to learn science, math, and other subjects through the outdoors.

The habitat areas are being established by the East Central (Ind.) Chapter of PF and the Indiana Wildlife Federation through a grant provided by the Ball Brothers' Foundation. Other partners include the National Wildlife Federation and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The areas will contain trees, native plants and water sources, which will spur wildlife development and benefit existing wildlife species, including migratory birds. The first Schoolyard Habitats will be established in several Delaware County school corporations and in the Muncie Library system, with other sites expected to grow across central Indiana over the next few years.

In an effort to maximize the potential of these areas, PF will provide training for representatives from each school through its educational division, the Leopold Education Project (LEP). LEP is a K-12 state education-approved environmental curriculum based on the classic writings of the renowned conservationist, Aldo Leopold, and is designed to instill the importance of responsible environmental stewardship in youth. "Getting youth outdoors is the first step in addressing Nature Deficit Disorder, and projects such as the Schoolyard Habitats are the ideal way to achieve that - exciting and educational," said Ed Pembleton, LEP Director.

"The Schoolyard Habitats offer immense educational benefits, yet they don't require a field trip, buses or permission slips, and virtually any subject can be taught through nature's spectrum," said Rick Lopez, youth/education chair of the East Central chapter and chair of the Indiana State Council of PF. "The benefits are two-fold - enhancing conservation education opportunities and wildlife habitat."

For more information on the schoolyard habitats, contact Rick Lopez at (765)468-3557 or via email at rick.lopez@highstream.net. For more information on LEP, log onto www.LEP.org. or contact Ed Pembleton toll free at (877)773-2070 or via email at efp@pheasantsforever.org. For more information on PF in Indiana, contact Brian Grossman, PF Regional Wildlife Biologist, at (502)538-7656 or via email at bgrossman@quailforever.org.

There are 22 PF chapters and over 3,000 PF members working on wildlife habitat projects across Indiana. In fact, Indiana PF chapters have spent $1.5 million dollars to complete nearly 5,000 habitat projects during the organization's 25-year history. Those projects have benefited nearly 40,000 acres for wildlife in that time. There are an additional six Quail Forever chapters in Indiana; Pheasants Forever's quail division.

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, are non-profit conservation organizations dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasant, quail, and other wildlife populations in North America through habitat improvement, land management, public awareness, and education. Nationwide, the organization counts over 700 chapters and 115,000 members.

Media Contact:
Anthony Hauck (651)209-4972