‘The Bear Facts: The Story of a North Carolina Treasure’ Is Offered Free of Charge to

[NCangler]

RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 10) – Once Feagin Fuqua learned about the free, educational black bear DVD offered by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, she knew the science teachers in her school district would want it.

Fuqua, who recently took the position of instructional coach for high school science teachers in the Winston-Salem Forsyth County School District, said, “I was just elated. I had been a biology teacher for 23 years so my role is new. But I thought, in this role, if I could introduce the DVD, the science teachers would be as excited as I was. And the response has been just tremendous, and not only with high school teachers but middle school teachers as well.”

“The Bear Facts: The Story of a North Carolina Treasure” was the creation of Mark Jones, the black bear biologist for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. The original 36-minute, made-for-TV documentary became a popular mainstay on many area public television stations. Now, it’s available in a newly expanded format that offers eight additional interactive functions for students to enjoy. It’s also accompanied by a CD containing grade-specific lesson plans, bear-related activities, maps, and other educational materials suitable for K-12.

Jones said response to the free educational tool has been extremely positive across the state, with Fuqua’s system-wide implementation being the latest sign.

“Teachers like the fact that it’s based on something that’s specific to North Carolina,” he said. “So much of what they get comes from somewhere else - California or other far away places. This is about something that’s in the state, and the Wildlife Resources Commission has performed the research and developed this educational product. It’s about a real state treasure.”

Even better, the DVD is designed to go beyond bears, which range from North Carolina’s low-lying coastal areas to the mountains of the west. With interactive maps, population data and plenty of historical background, teachers and students won’t be limited to learning about the state’s largest carnivore. The package, which is available at no cost to the state’s educators through the N.C. Wild Store, can be easily applied to lessons covering geography, history, math and environmental conservation.

In addition to public and private school teachers, “The Bear Facts” is available to North Carolina church groups, wildlife clubs, Boy and Girl Scout troops, museums, state parks and other educational groups.

The offering is made possible through a funding grant provided by the Wildlife Resources Commission and a private foundation.

Fuqua said that more than 300 middle and high school science teachers have received "The Bear Facts" and could be using it in her school system this year. In addition, the DVD will be introduced to more than 1,100 elementary teachers this fall.

"This is just tremendous. There are many reasons it is so good. The fact that it's focused on a North Carolina species, it is interactive so students can explore different sections depending on their interest, and the lesson plans and short segments allow teachers to tailor it to their specific curriculum," she said. “It’s much bigger than even I had envisioned that it would be, which is what you hope – that the teachers would take it and run with it.”

For more information about black bears, the DVD or the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, visit www.ncwildlife.org.