PROVIDENCE – The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announces that the summer 2019 issue of Wild Rhode Island Explorer, a free quarterly children's magazine produced by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, is now available online and in public libraries throughout the state. Last fall, DEM launched the publication, which is geared to students in grades four through seven. Each issue features an article about habitat, an interview with DEM biologists and staff, a species profile, puzzles and games, and recommendations for younger readers along with artwork and original writing submitted by readers.
Wild Rhode Island Explorer connects youth to Rhode Island's wide array of wildlife resources; provides information about the many conservation, research, and management projects performed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife; and supports existing science and literacy curricula in the classroom. Soraya Santana, a fourth- grade teacher at the Frank D. Spaziano Elementary School in Providence, has been participating in DEM's Wildlife Outreach Program since 2017. An avid proponent of environmental education, Soraya uses the magazine as a reading tool in her classroom.
"The content is interesting, and the photographs help children understand it better," said Soraya. "I like the use of boldface to highlight important words. I started using these words to study in class and expand my students' science vocabulary. The article with the interview format was very good also. Students can learn about different jobs that people do that help the environment." Soraya noted that many of her students are English language learners and said the magazine helps her students build not only their science vocabulary but also their English vocabulary.
Wild Rhode Island Explorer magazines are sent to every library in the state, Rhode Island teachers and families from 35 towns and villages, and to readers in New York, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Subscription requests continue to come in from families, organizations, individuals, and educators. To respond to this growing interest, DEM is increasing the number of printed copies available and posts each issue on the DEM website.
To request a printed copy of Wild Rhode Island Explorer, contact Mary Gannon, Wildlife Outreach Coordinator, at Mary.Gannon@dem.ri.gov. DEM encourages young artists, writers, and wildlife lovers to submit their fish and wildlife-inspired work to Mary to be featured in a future issue.
For more information on DEM's Wildlife Outreach Program, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow DEM on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM or Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) for timely updates.