Save The Frogs Day - April 28th, 2012
Save The Frogs Day is the world's largest day of amphibian education and conservation action. Help us reach our 2012 goal of 300 events in 30 countries : please organize an event in your community, and ask your local schools and environmental organizations to take part as well. If you can't participate in Save The Frogs Day, please place a tax-deductible donation or fundraise for the frogs, and help us spread frog awareness to the furthest reaches of the planet. Together we can SAVE THE FROGS!
Learn about the events here | Register your event here
Sponsors |
Partners | Tips for Event Organizers | In The News
Frequently Asked Questions | Drumming For The Frogs
Save The Frogs Day 2011: Stories & Photos
Save The Frogs Day 2010: Stories & Photos
Save The Frogs Day 2009: Stories & Photos
Introduction
In an effort to raise awareness of the plight of amphibians, the scientific community and Governor Bev Purdue of North Carolina have declared Saturday April 28th, 2012 the 4th Annual 'Save The Frogs Day'. On this day we encourage the appreciation and celebration of amphibians by people from all walks of life.
Please get involved and help spread the word! Only a small proportion of our public is aware that frogs are disappearing, and amphibian conservation efforts will not be successful with an un-informed public. Our goal is to make the amphibian extinction crisis common knowledge by Save The Frogs Day: help make it happen!
Save The Frogs Day is a de-centralized event!
While SAVE THE FROGS! is organizing events in Seattle and San Francisco this year, Save The Frogs Day is still a de-centralized event: that means it's up to you to make something happen in your part of the universe. The frogs are depending on you. Your children and their children are depending on you. The future of the planet lies in your hands and in your actions. SAVE THE FROGS!
Top 7 Things YOU Can Do This Save The Frogs Day
-- Please organize an Atrazine Rally in your town;
-- Hold a benefit concert;
-- Make a video to promote Save The Frogs Day and distribute it on the web;
-- Make a flyer to promote Save The Frogs Day and post it around town;
--
Get Save The Frogs Day officially recognized by your Mayor;
-- Sponsor a $250 Save The Frogs Day Award to enable a group in a developing country to properly fund their Save The Frogs Day event.
-- Collect donations from your friends and co-workers. Check out our fundraising page, where you can find lots of tips on how to raise money for the frogs.
CALLING ALL DRUMMERS!
This Save The Frogs Day we're gonna make a big noise "DRUMMING FOR THE FROGS". Let your drums ring out from the highest mountaintops to the deepest valleys, on downtown streets, in school buildings and at the doorsteps of politicians and corporations that pollute, sell frog legs, destroy habitat or otherwise harm frogs. And let it be known to all who hear: The time has come to SAVE THE FROGS!
SAVE THE FROGS! invites all drummers, music lovers and frog lovers to the Save The Frogs Day Drumming For The Frogs extravaganza at San Francisco's oceanside Sharp Park Wetlands April 28th, 2012.
We'll be drumming in San Francisco, but we encourage all people to organize Save The Frogs Day "Drumming For The Frogs" events in your town, whether it is an informal drum circle or a drum concert. Attending someone else's event? Ask the organizer if they will be Drumming For The Frogs. Bring your fellow musicians!
Help spread the word and maximize your impact by getting good video footage that you can post to YouTube. We will give a $100 prize to the group that submits the best Save The Frogs Day Drumming For The Frogs video! Please try to wear a SAVE THE FROGS! T-Shirt or have a SAVE THE FROGS! Flag in the video.
Save The Frogs Day Awards
People and groups who have held events in the past are eligible for grants of up to $500 to assist their Save The Frogs Day event. These frog savers have proven their abilities and dedication, and their past Save The Frogs Day experience(s) will ensure their event is even more successful this year. If this is your first Save The Frogs Day event, ensure you make yourself eligible for funding next year by registering your event, no matter how big or small it may be.
Looking for inspiration or ideas?
If you are looking for Save The Frogs Day inspiration or ideas, please visit the Save The Frogs Day 2009, 2010 and 2011 events webpages: they hold an enormous wealth of ideas that will help you create your own event!
Teachers
Save The Frogs Day is a perfect time for teachers and students to learn about amphibian extinctions and discuss ways that we can all contribute to amphibian conservation efforts. Please get your students involved in Save The Frogs Day activities, and be creative!
If you have any type of frog-related class or event planned, please be sure to REGISTER YOUR EVENT. Inform your fellow teachers of the day, and be sure to check out the Teachers For Frogs page for more ideas.
General Lesson Plan
The key points that all teachers should mention in their classes this Save The Frogs Day are:
(1) Frogs are the most threatened group of animals on the planet, and are rapidly going extinct. Nearly one-third of the world's 6,644 amphibian species are in danger of extinction and up to 200 species have completely disappeared in the last 30 years.
(2) Frogs are important to the ecosystem and to humans. See our Why Frogs page for more information.
(3) The primary threats to frogs are habitat destruction; pollution and pesticides; climate change; infectious diseases spread by human activity; over-harvesting for the pet and food trades; and invasive species such as introduced trout, crayfish and non-native amphibians.
(4) Students can help save frogs. Please visit our How to Help page for more information.
All participating classes should make a Save The Frogs Day banner, and then email us a picture of all the students holding up the banner. We will be making a collection of all these photographs from around the world. Then hang the banner in your school as a permanent reminder of Save The Frogs Day and as a call to action for all of the school's students.
Need a PowerPoint?
We have several PowerPoint presentations you can download or embed on your webpage. You can download mp3s of SAVE THE FROGS! Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger giving amphibian presentations using these PowerPoints on our Audio page.
Need Info Cards?
We have some very nice 4" x 6" info cards. Be sure to ask your students to deliver them to their parents at the end of the day!
Art Teachers
Get your class involved in the SAVE THE FROGS! Art Contest. There are cash prizes and students really enjoy this!
English & Writing Teachers
Get your class involved in the SAVE THE FROGS! Poetry Contest. Have each student write a Letter to the Editor of a local, state or national paper or magazine, discussing frog extinctions and Save The Frogs Day. Or have them write their Mayor, Governor, Senator or President.
~ Almost Gone
by Brittany Belanger, Age 12
Frogs,
The pinwheel of our earth,
The binding of our book,
The balance of our world,
Almost gone.
The wheel will slowly stop turning,
The binding slowly unravel,
The balance disturbed.
Frogs,
The glue holding our ecosystem together,
Slowly beginning to fade,
Like the perfect morning,
Fading to a thick canopy of darkness.
Our world as we know it will change.
The frogs are the answer,
The key to turn the lock,
The cure to many diseases,
But they are almost gone,
What will you do?
Biology Teachers
Discuss frog biology, natural history, reasons for the current mass extinction crisis and what can be done about it. Have your students investigate and write a short summary of the amphibian species in the area. Take a field trip to search for tadpoles. If you have permits/permission, you may want to collect some NATIVE tadpoles and begin raising them with your class on Save The Frogs Day, to be released at the pond from which they were collected at a later date (be sure someone can care for them until that point!).
Perform a virtual frog dissection using the Digital Frog 2.5 computer software. Have your students write up an official statement requesting the school Principal or Board of Supervisors discontinue frog dissections in their school district: if their request gets approved, your school just might win the Race To Stop Dissections Contest! Our goal is to get frog dissections out of all USA public schools by 2014: please help make it happen!
Film Teachers
Help us promote Save The Frogs Day by having your students make a 5-minute video announcing Save The Frogs Day -- then add the video to your school's website and YouTube so lots of people learn about Save The Frogs Day. If there are any Save The Frogs Day events happening at your school, film the event and make a short documentary, then upload to the web as part of Save The Frogs Day history. Or make some short videos on amphibian extinction or interview students to see how much they know about frogs and the environment. Please be sure they upload their Save The Frogs Day videos to YouTube to get the word out about amphibian extinctions and SAVE THE FROGS!. And please send us your school's best video! See our video page for more ideas.
Philosophy and Ethics Teachers
Have your classes discuss the ethical implications of amphibian extinctions.
History Teachers
Discuss the history of the environmental movement.
Music Teachers
Set up a Battle of the Bands benefit concert at your school that day. Have the winning band take half the earnings, and donate the other half to SAVE THE FROGS!. Write frog songs, videotape them and YouTube them.
Physical Education Teachers
Frog jump contests. Need we say more?
Hold a fundraiser
Please have your students hold a fundraiser for SAVE THE FROGS' amphibian conservation efforts. Students will learn valuable business skills, feel good about their accomplishments, and they will be helping Save The Frogs do what we do best: SAVE THE FROGS! Students can use donation jars, hold bake sales, talk to parents and local businesses, or even Party for the Frogs!
Give them some reading material
Have your students read The Story of SAVE THE FROGS! and surf the savethefrogs.com website. And please download and distribute our free PDF "The Wild World of Frogs: A Self-Guided Tour".
Watch The Thin Green Line
Watch Allison Argo's excellent documentary The Thin Green Line. You can order the DVD here.
Design signs for local waterbodies
Is there a local waterbody in your town that has amphibians? Probably. Here is a great group project: have the students design educational signage to place at the waterbodies of local parks. The signs should include the name of the waterbody; pictures and/or drawings of the amphibians found there (the park administer likely has this info), as well as a few lines about each species; a few lines describing the amphibian extinction crisis, the importance of amphibians, and ways people can help; and finally, be sure to mention that the sign was created by the students of your school in celebration of this year's Save The Frogs Day. Then have the students contact the local government and have their sign turned into a reality!
Build a frog pond behind your school
What better way to get kids interested in frogs than to have them build a frog pond behind their school on Save The Frogs Day? Their efforts will be rewarded when they see the first clutch of eggs in the pond, and when the first tadpoles metamorphose and crawl out of the pond! Plus they can win $$$ CASH PRIZES $$$ and frog fame by entering the Build A Frog Pond Contest.
Get politically active!
All participating classes should have students write, sign and address a letter to their Mayor, Governor or one of their Congressmen, stating:
(A) Frogs are rapidly disappearing worldwide;
(B) They took part in Save The Frogs Day activities;
(C) At least one reason frogs are important; and
(D) At least one step the politician should take to help frog populations.
Don't worry, we'll be adding a form letter to this page that will make the letter-writing easy! You just have to provide your students with the names and addresses of the relevant politician(s), and then collect and mail the letters. Finally, be sure to report back to us and let us know how many letters you sent!
Have your students get the word out
Our Spread The Word page has informational flyers you and your students can post around school and town. Or have the students create their own webpage about Save The Frogs Day and amphibian extinctions.
Looking forward - submit a grant proposal
Why not plan out your next year's course of action now? Classroom Earth lists a variety of funding opportunities for students and teachers. Have the class agree on a frog conservation project for the upcoming year (this should be done with input from the teacher one grade above you!). Then have them submit a funding request. Let us know about your success!
Does your class want to hold a Save The Frogs Day event next year? Need some funds to turn your brilliant idea into a reality? Tell us what you would do with $500, and you may win the Save The Frogs Day Award! Status: Accepting applications through January 31st, 2012.
All teachers please do this...
Whatever you decide to do, please be sure to have fun, take photos, and REGISTER YOUR EVENT!
Students
It's up to you to get your school saving the frogs this Save The Frogs Day! You can start by telling your teachers about Save The Frogs Day and referring them to this page. Then have a look at the Students For Frogs page, and our page for University Students.
Kindergarten through 8th grader: Please print this flyer and deliver it to your teachers.
High school and university students: Please look through this PDF.
Ask your teachers for permission to set up a SAVE THE FROGS! informational table in the school hallway this Save The Frogs Day. We can provide you with informational flyers to hand out, and you can help raise money for SAVE THE FROGS!. Be sure to contact us if you are able to set up a table.
Does your school still dissect frogs? Collect petition signatures asking your biology teacher or principal to abandon your school's dissection program. Then set up a meeting with them on Save The Frogs Day to deliver the petition signatures. Learn all about frog dissections here. Remember: our goal is to have frog dissections out of all USA public schools by 2014!
Have a school newspaper? If so, you can write a short article for the paper announcing Save The Frogs Day. Get your classes involved in the Frog Art Contest, the Frog Poetry Contest and the Frog Essay Contest. Give a 5-minute talk on frog extinctions to your class (ask your teacher permission well in advance and they will likely grant you permission). If you are a university student, see if you can give a frog presentation to K-12 students at a local school. If you are a K-12 student, see if you can give a short presentation on frogs to students a grade or two below you. Have a look at our Spread The Word page. Also, read through the Teachers section on this page.
Whatever you decide to do, please be sure to Register Your Event. And have fun!
Scientists
It is our duty as scientists to protect amphibian populations, and this will not be possible unless we rapidly and successfully educate the public about the amphibian extinction crisis. This Save The Frogs Day, please give a public presentation on amphibians and/or lead a frog walk to show people wild amphibians in their native habitat. This is a great way to spread the word about amphibian declines, and it is guaranteed to get students interested in amphibian conservation. Feel free to use one of our freely downloadable PowerPoint presentations.
If you are affiliated with a herpetological society, please have your group send a Save The Frogs Day announcement to all of its members. Add the Save The Frogs Day icon at the top of this page to your personal or professional website and that of your society. Post the Save The Frogs Day flyer up at your place of work. Finally, please be sure to register your event! We need to track what is happening!
Businesses
Your business can help SAVE THE FROGS! Whether its becoming an official sponsor of Save The Frogs Day, or holding a Save The Fogs Day sale and offering a portion of the proceeds to SAVE THE FROGS, our Businesses For Frogs page has lots of ideas on how your business can take part in Save The Frogs Day activities. Be creative: helping the frogs can be serve as valuable positive PR for your company!
The Official Poster of Save The Frogs Day 2012
Save The Frogs Day 2012 Poster
In commemoration of the 4th Annual Save The Frogs Day, we present this limited edition 18x24" print featuring the fantastic photography of SAVE THE FROGS! Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger. All proceeds help us coordinate, promote and grow Save The Frogs Day, so please order one here. COMING SOON!!!
Party For The Frogs!
Fundraising house parties and office parties are great ways to celebrate Save The Frogs Day. Not only are they an excellent method of raising funds for Save The Frogs' worldwide amphibian conservation efforts, they also spread the word and educate people about amphibian extinctions. Plus, fundraising parties are a fun way to catch up with friends. And they aren't very hard to set up. Here's how to have a successful party!
Spread The Word
We need Save The Frogs Day to be more popular than Thanksgiving!!! Please do your part:
(1) Put this flyer up at your school, workplace, or anywhere else. Just left-click on the flyer and a PDF will open in a separate window. Please email it to your friends too. Try to print them in color if possible!
(2) Email your friends and tell them that Save The Frogs Day is April 28th, 2012: http://savethefrogs.com/day
(3) Put a note up on your website and add a link to this page. Use the Save The Frogs Day icon at the top of this page, or the one right here (icon coming soon!)-->
(4) If you use Facebook, Myspace or Twitter, make the icon to your right your profile picture. Just right click and choose "Save Picture As".
(5) Please see our Spread The Word page and be creative!
(6) You probably email 100+ people per week. Please make an automated signature for your email. Just go to your mail options or settings and there should be a place to set up the automated signature. Have it say this:
Save The Frogs Day - April 28th, 2012
www.savethefrogs.com/day
(7) Create an Event Notice: Most newspapers have a website on which you can post event notices. Something as simple as this can drive a lot of traffic to this page:
"April 28th, 2012 - Save the Frogs Day - Aims to raise awareness about the disappearance of frogs.
Help get Save The Frogs Day recognized in your state
Save The Frogs Day has been officially recognized by:
- Governor Bev Perdue of North Carolina (view proclamation here)
- Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia (view proclamation here)
- Mayor Mike Rotkin of Santa Cruz (view proclamation here)
- Mayor Gregor Robertson of Vancouver, BC (view proclamation here)
-
Chairman Corey Stewart of Prince William County, VA
- Mayor Harry Parrish of Manassas, VA
It's up to you to get Save The Frogs Day recognized in your city, county, state, shire, province or nation! You will be educating your politicians about amphibian extinctions, and helping ensure that their next vote is a frog-friendly one!
Please left-click on the picture below to get a PDF of a petition sheet you can print out and use to collect signatures, which we will send in when we ask your governor/mayor to legally recognize Save The Frogs Day. These signatures will help convey to your politicians the importance of amphibian conservation. Further, by collecting these signatures, you'll be spreading the word every time you talk to someone about Save The Frogs Day.
Please donate to the Save The Frogs Day Fund!
Save The Frogs Day is the world's largest day of amphibian education and conservation action, and it is your generous financial support that makes it all possible! Your tax-deductible contribution will enable us to coordinate, promote, expand and improve Save The Frogs Day, and to create all the educational materials that we freely provide to students, teachers, scientists and naturalists around the world. Let's double the size of Save The Frogs Day every year!!! Thanks for your support!
Save The Frogs Day 2012 In The News
Save The Frogs Day has been featured on CNN Worldwide television, the front page of Le Monde, and a multitude of other frog-friendly communications networks. Radio, TV, newspapers and magazines are great ways to educate citizens about amphibian extinctions and Save The Frogs Day is our single greatest chance to raise awareness of frog extinctions. So we call on all journalists to write articles and talk about Save The Frogs Day and frog extinctions on your TV and radio shows. Contact us to set up an interview! You can use view our press releases here. Once we start making news for this year's event, we'll post articles here. You can check out our Save The Frogs Day 2011 worldwide news coverage here.
Sponsors
Great thanks to the Official Sponsors of Save The Frogs Day 2011! If your business or organization would like to be an Official Sponsor of Save The Frogs Day, please contact us. Your support will be invaluable to the success of Save The Frogs Day, and we will see to it that you get the positive publicity you deserve!
Partners
Thanks to our partners for promoting Save The Frogs Day and amphibian conservation in their region of the world! If your organization would like to partner with Save The Frogs, please contact us!
National Wildlife Federation
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
Miss Earth South Africa
Partners in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation
Partners in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation would like to thank all of the amazing people across the world, from amphibian biologists and other conservation biologists to land managers to private citizens, for their ongoing and tireless work in amphibian research, captive breeding, conservation, management, habitat restoration, education and outreach, citizen science, and other efforts for the benefit and appreciation of amphibians worldwide. Keep hopping forward!
2011 Save The Frogs Day Award Winner
Congratulations to Hari Bahadur Rana of Chitwan, Nepal, winner of the 2011 Save The Frogs Day Award ($500). The funds will allow him to run a Save The Frogs Day event entitled "An Individual Made Aware is a Generation Informed" at the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science.
Need graphic design assitance to promote your event?
Good graphic design for flyers and t-shirts is important. Once you register you event you become eligible for graphic design assistance: we can potentially help put you in touch with a SAVE THE FROGS! Graphic Design volunteer! So please register then contact us if you need help, or if you are a designer skilled in Photoshop, Illustrator and/or InDesign who is willing team up with an event. We suggest learning how to use Skype Screenshare as it will make working with your designer much easier, wherever in the world they may be.
The 5th Annual Save The Frogs Day: April 27th, 2013
Mark your calendars and start planning your 2013 Save The Frogs Day event: The 5th Annual Save The Frogs Day will be Saturday, April 27th, 2013.
"Congratulations because Save The Frogs Day has become an icon in conservation around the world!!! Thanks for such inspiring work!!!"
--
Dr. Nicolas Urbina-Cardona; Assistant Professor; Faculty of Environmental and Rural Studies; Javeriana University – Bogota, Colombia
Thanks for your support!
Together we can SAVE THE FROGS!
Website design, photos & content by Kerry Kriger unless otherwise noted.
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