Timothy P. Donahue, National Wildlife Federation, Great Lakes Natural Resource Center, 506 East Liberty Street 2nd Floor, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA

In the Great Lakes region, wolves are present in surprising numbers yet their future is very much in debate. During the past quarter century, wolf numbers have increased steadily in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan to the point that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering the reclassification of wolves as a threatened species in these three states (wolves are currently classified as threatened in Minnesota and as endangered in Michigan and Wisconsin). The National Wildlife Federation (NWF), the nation's largest non-profit conservation organization, supports this reclassification if each state adopts biologically sound and socially acceptable management plans. Working with NWF state affiliate organizations in the affected states (Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Minnesota Conservation Federation and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation) our Great Lakes region wolf work combines legal, scientific and educational expertise in a concerted effort to educate and inspire decision makers and the general public to support science-based wolf management strategies at the state level.

NWF's Animal Tracks classroom education program has recently published the Wolves Action Pack, a curricular resource for educators containing wolf-related background information, classroom activities, ideas for action projects and additional resource lists. The Wolves Action Pack can stand alone as a dynamic resource for incorporating wolf themes across the curriculum, but it also has been designed to complement and enhance the Wolves giant-screen film that will be featured in a special screening during the conference.

Also in 1999, NWF's Great Lakes Natural Resource Center staff are developing an educational Great Lakes Wolf Trunk, incorporating wolf and wolf-prey artifacts, Great Lakes-specific background materials, and a variety of additional curricular resources pertaining to wolves in the Great Lakes region.

These three outstanding educational resourcesûthe Wolves Action Pack, Wolves giant-screen film and Great Lakes Wolf Trunk represent a comprehensive curricular source for educators in the Great Lakes region which combines vivid cinematic imagery, hands-on encounters with wolf artifacts, engaging learning activities and a great breadth of wolf-related background information. Participants at this presentation will gain practical experience with each of these educational resources while increasing their understanding of wolves in the Great Lakes region. Educators will come away better prepared to present students with a balanced, science-based picture of wolves and more positive wolf-related educational experiences.