American Wilderness Leadership School (AWLS)

Promoting participation in the outdoors through education and involvement within a partnership with the Iowa chapter of Safari Club International and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.

The future of hunting depends in great part upon education: about conservation, sustained use and development of resources, and the role hunters play therein. Who better to educate today's youth than their teachers and mentors? No one!

AWLS is a hands-on, gotta-live-it, gotta-experience-it-to-teach-it program designed to increase knowledge and awareness of wildlife and wilderness conservation. Every year, educators from around the US and of diverse backgrounds – science, technology, physical education, elementary, special education to name a few – participate in AWLS. These enlightened individuals head home prepared to share their experiences and lessons learned with their students, thereby passing this important information along to the next generation. 

The program includes academic lectures, discussions and field trips, with topics covering wildlife management and ecology, environmental ethics and leadership, conservation and natural resource management, and firearm use and safety. 

Past curricula for the 5 days at the Springbrook Conservation Education Center have included orienteering, shooting of all types, wildlife calling, turtle trapping, fishing (lake, stream and pond), canoeing, camping, fish shocking, bird banding, rock climbing, fly tying and archery. Participants may also study aquatic life, reptiles and amphibians, biotechnology, stream table use, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and visits to Rieman Gardens and the Izaac Walton League in Ames.

• to bring the issues to the classroom
• to develop a reading unit based on the environment to create a sense of wonder, appreciation and respect for the earth
• to develop outdoor recreational skills
• to integrate guns with history, biology, ecology and wildlife conservation
• to incorporate outdoor education in the physical education program
• to teach how to become stewards of our environment
• to broaden knowledge of current environmental issues
  * from NE Wisconsin SCI

In the words of a past participant in the Wyoming AWLS program: "As the week concluded I realized that I had been provided everything I needed to begin my task. I had acquired sixteen pounds of great “outdoor” educational nuggets and an abundance of resources for my classroom. It is my responsibility from this point on to educate children not just about music but about their world around them."
Kim Comrie, SCI National Capital Chapter

The first Iowa AWLS program occurred in 1988 with one or two programs per year since that time. It is a regional offshoot of the National AWLS facility in Jackson Hole, WY and has a well established reputation as a quality outdoor experience that involves the participants in the activities as well as gives them the resources to take them back to their educational settings. The results have been astonishing of what this program has accomplished over the years and what the participants have gained.

The AWLS course is headquartered at the Springbrook Conservation Education Center, located an hour northwest of Des Moines, in Springbrook State Park. The diverse habitats of the surrounding area are ideal for this purpose.

Lodging will be in dormitories with linens (pillow,blanket, sheets, and towels) provided. Shower/restroom facilities are in the buildings. All buildings are smoke-free and air-conditioned. (I have many teachers refer to this as the Marriot of camps.) All meals are included and prepared on site by our concessionaire.

Graduate Credit will be available through Drake University. Traditionally there have been three credits available for the course for an additional fee for the credit, payable at the start of the course. Additional information will be available as the credits are approved each year.

The cost of this program is set to basically cover the cost of the activities and is usually supported by funds from the Iowa Chapter of Safari Club International.

Sounds great! How do I get more information and how do I register?