Schools ‘Running Wild’ to Save Endangered Animals!

School children are invited to get involved in our new Running Wild activity day to raise funds and awareness to help save endangered species around the globe this autumn.

The fun new event will take place on October 4, to mark World Animal Day and gives children an opportunity to play, learn about conservation and raise money for DSWF.

“Running Wild is a great fun way of getting children interested in our environment and to learn new and exciting lessons about iconic endangered species such as elephants, tigers and rhinos – while raising money to help protect them at the same time,” said DSWF’s Education Manager Jo Elphick.

Schools can sign up and choose to do whatever wild activity they like on Running Wild day such as a:

• Tumble through the jungle – a sponsored race across an obstacle course!
• Non-uniform day – dress up as an endangered wild animal!
• Wild bake sale – make animal themed treats and have a cake stall!
• Wild tiger jump – see how many you can do in a minute!
• Wild sponsored run – cover the distance an animal travels in a day (primary and junior options available).

DSWF can provide schools taking part in Running Wild with sponsorship forms perfect for fundraising. PLUS each school with a minimum of 30 students taking part will receive a FREE DSWF animal adoption – including a fantastic animal toy hand made by a women’s group in Zambia. A perfect classroom mascot!

All the money raised by schools from the Running Wild event will go to projects funded by DSWF, that are working to conserve endangered animals across Africa and Asia – including snow leopards, chimpanzees and pangolins.

More than 50 elephants are killed by poachers in Africa alone EVERY day. Rhinos are being hunted for their horn at alarming levels and tigers are quickly heading for extinction – with only around 3,500 left in the wild.

DSWF works to FIGHT wildlife crime, PROTECT endangered animals and their wild spaces and ENGAGE with communities both in the UK and overseas, to help them understand the value of wildlife. The charity also campaigns for stronger laws to protect wildlife and supports investigations into wildlife crime.

The Running Wild event is a great warm-up for DSWF’s annual Global Canvas collaborative children’s art competition – the theme for 2019 is ‘Habitats of the World’.

For more information about the wildlife that we support, as well as FREE printable fact sheets and posters for use in habitats lessons in the autumn term, visit the education pages of our website.

“DSWF firmly believes that the future health of our planet and of all living things rests with today’s children and we hope children, teachers and schools will sign up and get involved in our brilliant wild educational events,” added Jo.

“If we can help develop, inspire and encourage an interest in the natural world, specifically by bringing conservation issues into schools, then we will have achieved our aim.”

To find out more about Running Wild on World Animal Day on October 4 and 2019’s Global Canvas art competition email [email protected] or call 01483 272 323.

Click here to download the ‘Running Wild’ leaflet and sign-up form – With special thanks to Pim-Pam creative studio for their amazing design support!

Image Credits – Design: Pim-Pam, Elephant: Russell MacLaughlin, Pangolin: Africa Revealed – africarevealed.co.za