Wildlife Conservation

During Spring Break of the 2023-24 school year, ABP conducted a trip to Alajuela Province, Costa Rica to focus on wildlife conservation. Below is the slideshow presented at the participant training associated with the trip (if you click the three dots under the slides, you should be able to access additional speaker notes).

What Can i do to help Locally?

Below, we’ve listed a few nonprofits that you can support:

Hoosier Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation

About: Hoosier Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation is dedicated to aiding injured, orphaned, and sick native Indiana wildlife by providing veterinary care, raising young, and preparing them for release back into the wild. They also promote healthy human-wildlife relationships through educational programs, community outreach, and conservation advocacy.

Website: https://hoosierwildliferescue.org/ 

Donation Link: https://givebutter.com/4woF4t 

How To Get Involved: Currently, Hoosier Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation is looking for a Communications Director to manage newsletter content and social media platforms, as well as coordinate education events. The nonprofit is also recruiting board members, and a volunteer team specifically focused on social media (note: volunteer roles can be converted into internship roles to facilitate the earning of school credit). There are other roles which entail working more directly with wildlife. The applications to make use of the aforementioned opportunities are on this page: https://hoosierwildliferescue.org/volunteer.

Indiana Wildlife Federation

About: Affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation, the Indiana Wildlife Federation (IWF), promotes the sustainable use of renewable resources through educational programs and collaboration with state agencies to monitor wildlife and habitats in Indiana. They advocate for conservation-friendly legislation and engage in national issues affecting Indiana's resources, supported by a diverse membership dedicated to preserving the state's natural heritage.

Website: https://indianawildlife.org/ 

Donation Link: https://indianawildlife.org/membership/donate/ 

How To Get Involved: Volunteering at the Indiana Wildlife Federation can involve activities such as photographing at IWF projects and events, participating in grassroots advocacy, heading hikes or speaking in webinars. One can apply for volunteer opportunities through filling out the form on this page: https://indianawildlife.org/take-action/volunteer-opportunities/ 

Wildcare Inc.

About: WildCare Inc., a nonprofit organization established in 2001, focuses on the professional care and rehabilitation of any sick, injured, and orphaned native Indiana wildlife (excluding deer), with the goal of returning the animals to the wild. The nonprofit’s dedicated team of staff and volunteers care for 1,000–1,500 animals annually. WildCare Inc. also conducts extensive educational outreach to the local community.

Website: https://wildcareinc.org/ 

Donation Link: https://wildcareinc.org/support-us/donations/ 

How To Get Involved: WildCare Inc. volunteers can engage in tasks such as feeding baby raccoons, hosting educational seminars, or crafting social media posts. Internships offer tailored experiences in animal care or administrative roles, providing hands-on training and valuable skill-building opportunities. Internship credits are also available for IU students. One can apply for volunteer or internship opportunities here: https://wildcareinc.org/get-involved/