National Wildlife Federation facts for kids
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| Founded | February 3, 1936 |
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| Founder | Jay Norwood Darling |
| Type | 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization |
| Focus | Environmentalism |
| Headquarters | Reston, Virginia, U.S. |
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Area served
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United States |
| Method | Education, training, research, lobbying |
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Members
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Over 4,000,000 |
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President, Chief Executive Officer
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Collin O'Mara |
| Subsidiaries | National Wildlife Federation Endowment (501(c)(3)) |
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Revenue (2017)
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$91,065,465 |
| Expenses (2017) | $83,063,340 |
| Endowment | $12,828,801 (2017) |
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Employees (2016)
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353 |
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Volunteers (2016)
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4,000 |
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Formerly called
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North American Wildlife Conference |
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is the largest private, nonprofit group in the United States that teaches people about and works to protect nature. It has over six million members and supporters. It also works with 51 groups in different states and territories, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Contents
How It All Started
In 1934, a famous political cartoonist named Jay Norwood Darling was asked to lead the U.S. Bureau of Biological Survey. This government office worked to protect wildlife. Darling asked Congress for money to help save nature, but they didn't give enough.
Feeling frustrated, Darling quit his job in 1935. He then asked President Franklin D. Roosevelt for help. President Roosevelt agreed to hold a big meeting called the North American Wildlife Conference. This meeting took place in Washington, D.C., from February 3 to February 7, 1936. The goal was to bring together everyone who cared about protecting wildlife. More than 1,000 people attended, coming from every U.S. state, Canada, and Mexico.
At the conference, Darling spoke about how badly the environment had been damaged. He said that just putting out a bird feeder or reading a magazine wasn't enough. Real action was needed to fix the problems. He even told people to vote against politicians who didn't help the environment.
On February 5, 1936, a new group was formed called the General Wildlife Federation. Darling became its first president. The group's main goals were to:
- Bring together all people interested in wildlife protection.
- Create a big plan to save and restore wildlife.
- Teach the public about protecting nature.
The first yearly meeting of the General Wildlife Federation happened in St. Louis, Missouri, in March 1937. Over 1,200 people attended. The Secretary of Agriculture, Henry Wallace, spoke there. He said that the government had a duty to protect the country's natural resources. He explained that "Every form of life has value."
In 1938, the General Wildlife Federation changed its name to the National Wildlife Federation. The number of members grew a lot, from 2.3 million in 1968 to 4.1 million in 1974. This happened because they worked hard to get more people involved.
What the NWF Does
The National Wildlife Federation has several important goals:
- Increase the number of fish and wildlife in America.
- Protect wildlife homes by fixing damaged areas like forests, rivers, and coasts.
- Improve how wildlife is managed and fight big problems like climate change and animal diseases.
- Help Americans connect with nature by teaching them about wildlife issues.
- Inspire young people to become future conservationists.
- Support laws that help save wildlife.
The NWF also supports hunting and encourages young people to learn about it.
The National Wildlife Federation teaches people of all ages about wildlife. They publish magazines for kids like Ranger Rick, Ranger Rick Jr., and Zoobooks. They also have a magazine for adults called National Wildlife.
They have made TV shows and IMAX films, such as Coral Reef Adventure and Bears. The NWF also helps people restore nature in their own backyards through programs like Backyard Wildlife Habitat and Schoolyard Habitat.
Since 1970, the NWF has held "Conservation Summits." These are like nature camps where families can learn about the environment. They are now called Family Nature Summits and are still held in many beautiful places across the U.S.
The main office of the National Wildlife Federation is in Reston, Virginia. It is located next to a wildlife sanctuary. This land used to be a garbage dump, but the NWF cleaned it up before moving there in 2001. In 2002, their headquarters building won an award for being one of the "Greenest" buildings.
Cool Programs and Projects
The National Wildlife Federation works on many environmental issues. These include protecting land, keeping the air clean, saving water, and helping wildlife. They care about animals like the bald eagle, grizzly bear, wolves, polar bears, and the Canada lynx. They also work to protect places like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Everglades.
Certified Wildlife Habitats
The "Backyard Wildlife Habitat" program started in 1973. It teaches people how to make their yards and communities friendly for local wildlife. Now called the Certified Wildlife Habitat program, it helps you provide:
- Food for animals.
- Water for animals.
- Safe places for animals to hide.
- Places for young animals to grow up.
You can do this by using native plants and adding things like birdhouses or small ponds. If your yard meets these needs, the NWF can certify it as an official Certified Wildlife Habitat site!
Campus Ecology
The Campus Ecology program helps colleges and universities become more eco-friendly. It gives them ideas, support, and ways to connect with each other. They offer examples of environmental projects that can be done on college campuses. Since 2000, this program has given over 100 scholarships to students working on projects to make their campuses more sustainable.
Every April, the Campus Ecology program hosts an online event called Chill Out: Campus Solutions to Global Warming. This event shows off projects from colleges that are working to fight climate change.
Eco-Schools USA
Eco-Schools is a program that helps schools teach students about being sustainable. The NWF became the host for Eco-Schools in the United States in 2008. Through this program, students, teachers, and volunteers work together to make their school grounds and buildings more "green." They also learn about environmental topics in their classes.
Great American Campout
Every year, the National Wildlife Federation encourages people to go camping. This event is called the Great American Campout. It asks people to camp in their backyards, neighborhoods, or parks to connect with nature. It used to be called the "Great American Backyard Campout," but in 2015, it was changed to include all kinds of camping.
Where the NWF Works
Besides its main office, the NWF has ten regional offices across the United States. These offices work with local groups to protect nature in different parts of the country.
For example, the office in the Mid-Atlantic region helps protect the Chesapeake Bay and Appalachian forests. The Great Lakes office works on issues like global warming and restoring the Great Lakes. Offices in the Pacific Northwest focus on protecting salmon and other wildlife. In the Rocky Mountains, they work to protect public lands and wildlife like grizzly bears. The South Central office helps restore rivers and wetlands.
No matter where they are, these offices all work to protect wildlife and teach people about nature.
Affiliates
The National Wildlife Federation has 51 "affiliates." These are independent groups that work locally to protect nature and wildlife. They help decide the NWF's conservation plans and choose many of the people on the NWF's Board of Directors. These affiliates bring different ideas and skills, helping the NWF achieve its goals.
See also
- Sustainability
- Biodiversity
- Ecology
- Recycling
- Environmental history of the United States
