National Wildlife Federation — mission, programs, history and how to get involved

Publications, media and online resources

NWF publishes a suite of magazines and educational titles aimed at multiple age groups. Prominent titles include Ranger Rick for children and National Wildlife for adult readers, along with youth magazines like Your Big Backyard and Wild Animal Baby. The federation also develops digital field guides and species information through resources such as eNature, and provides classroom curricula and teacher materials. NWF has partnered on broadcast and film projects, including a Backyard Habitat series seen on Animal Planet (Animal Planet) and contributions to IMAX and feature films (IMAX projects), to extend its educational reach.

Habitat and community programs

Hands-on habitat programs are a cornerstone of NWF's local conservation work. Programs such as Backyard Wildlife Habitat and Schoolyard Habitat help homeowners and schools create wildlife-friendly spaces using native plants, water sources, shelter and food that support pollinators, birds and other native species. These initiatives provide certification, step-by-step guidance, lesson plans and community outreach tools intended to increase urban and suburban biodiversity and to teach practical stewardship.

Education and youth outreach

Education is central to NWF's mission. The federation reaches children and families through magazines, activity guides, school partnerships and youth clubs. Resources emphasize outdoor learning, nature play, citizen science and skills for observing and protecting wildlife. Educator toolkits and training support classroom use, while national campaigns encourage family participation in habitat creation and species monitoring.

Advocacy priorities and policy work

NWF couples on-the-ground projects with national advocacy on key conservation issues. Priority topics include climate change and resilience (climate and global warming), mercury and other pollution reduction, stronger protections for endangered species and their habitats, combatting invasive species (invasive species), and safeguarding important public lands such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (Arctic Refuge). The federation supports science-based policy, litigation when appropriate, and campaigns to restore rivers, wetlands and coastal ecosystems.

Organizational structure and partnerships

NWF operates through a mix of national staff, state and regional affiliates, volunteer leaders and partner organizations. It collaborates with schools, municipalities, other nonprofits and corporate partners to scale conservation practices and to deliver education programs. The federation relies on a combination of membership dues, donations, grants and program revenue to fund its work.

How the public can participate

• Become a member or make a donation to support NWF's work and receive publications.
• Enroll a yard or school site in habitat certification programs to create safe spaces for wildlife.
• Use educational materials in classrooms, join local chapters or volunteer for habitat and restoration projects.
• Take part in citizen science projects and advocacy campaigns to influence conservation policy.

For more information and to access program pages, media materials and action resources, consult the federation's main site and related pages: NWF main site, information about media collaborations such as the Animal Planet collaboration, details on film and educational projects (IMAX and film projects), and topic pages for climate work (climate initiatives), invasive species (invasive species work), and Arctic refuge protection (Arctic Refuge efforts), as well as contact details for the Reston headquarters.

Whether through reading NWF publications, creating wildlife habitat at home, supporting teacher resources, or engaging in advocacy campaigns, individuals and communities can take many practical steps to support native wildlife and healthy ecosystems.