The first, and perhaps most important, step you must take when deciding on a habitat project for your school is to assess the characteristics of your schoolyard to ensure you will pick a project that will be most likely to succeed in those conditions. Furthermore, an assessment tool may highlight environmental issues (such as runoff, bare spots, poor drainage or lack of native habitat features) that could be improved through the implementation of a habitat project.

Below are several excellent assessment tools students can use to identify potential areas for projects. Students may also want to look at our list of types of habitat projects both before and after using the assessments to determine what projects may be most feasible for their schoolyard. Don't forget to include your maintenance or facilities staff as part of your team; they may be able to alert you to areas of concern where habitat projects may be able to solve a problem, such as places where water collects and leaks into the building or hard to mow areas.

Habitat Survey -- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide

Site Conditions for Habitat Projects -- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide

Soil Texture Chart -- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide

Schoolyard Report Card - Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat Assessment: Is this property good for wildlife? - George Radcliffe, Centreville Middle School

Types of Habitat Projects



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