International Wolf Center facts for kids
The International Wolf Center (IWC) is a special place near Ely, Minnesota, in the United States. It's an organization that teaches people all about wolves and how they live in nature.
At the Wolf Center, you can visit an interpretive center. Here, you can see "ambassador wolves" living in a natural setting through big windows. These wolves help people learn about their species. The center is located inside the beautiful Superior National Forest.
The International Wolf Center also helps with wolf research. They offer educational programs outside the center and publish a magazine called International Wolf. Their goal is to share accurate information about wolves. They don't take sides on how wolves should be managed, like whether they should be hunted. Instead, they focus on making sure wolf populations stay healthy and let people decide for themselves based on good information.
Contents
Discovering Wolves: Exhibits and Activities
The International Wolf Center was started in 1985 by a group of biologists. One of the main people was wolf expert Dr. L. David Mech. The center first opened its doors to the public in June 1993.
The main building in Ely, Minnesota, is quite large, about 17,000-square-foot (1,600 m2). Inside, you can watch Gray wolves (Canis lupus) through big windows. You can see them communicate, hunt, eat, and play!
Meet the Ambassador Wolves
The center has a special outdoor area for its "Exhibit Pack" of ambassador wolves. This area is about 1.25-acre (5,100 m2). These wolves represent different types of North American subspecies, including Arctic, Northwestern, and Great Plains wolves. The center often introduces new wolf pups every four years, which is exciting for visitors!
Fun Educational Programs
Besides seeing the wolves, the center offers many educational programs. These happen at the Ely center and at "wolf hot spots" in northern Minnesota. You can join programs that last an afternoon, a weekend, or even a whole week.
Some activities include:
- Howling trips, where you might hear real wolves howl.
- Snowshoe treks in the winter.
- Learning how scientists track wolves using radio signals.
- Fun family activities.
- Dog sledding experiences.
- Watching documentaries in the theater about wolves.
- Attending presentations and demonstrations.
- Going on hikes to explore the area.
The center also has a new exhibit called Discover Wolves!. There's even a special Little Wolf exhibit just for younger children, aged three to nine. Before you leave, you can visit the "Wolf Den" store for souvenirs.
International Wolf Magazine
The International Wolf Center publishes a magazine called International Wolf four times a year. Members of the center receive this magazine for free. You can also find some articles from each issue online.
Learning for Educators
To help spread knowledge about wolves, the center has a program for teachers. This includes "WolfLink," which offers distance learning. Through this program, the center connects with hundreds of classrooms every year, teaching students about wolves from afar.
WolfQuest Video Game
The center also supported a video game called WolfQuest. This game was created by the Minnesota Zoo. WolfQuest is an educational computer game designed to teach kids and teens about the life of a wild wolf. Players learn what it's like to be a wolf in Yellowstone National Park. Two parts of the game have been released: WolfQuest: Amethyst Mountain and WolfQuest: Slough Creek.
