New Trail Camera Virtual Curriculum

Bring Wildlife Into Any Classroom — No Field Trip Required

For kids growing up in Montana, questions like When do elk calves drop? or How do you tell a grizzly from a black bear? are second nature. For millions of students in urban classrooms, that same knowledge feels worlds away.

The Boone and Crockett Club's Lee and Penny Anderson Conservation Education Program is changing that with the Trail Camera Curriculum — a virtual wildlife education series that brings the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch directly to middle schoolers anywhere in the country.

Developed by B&C's Director of Conservation Programs, Luke Coccoli, as part of his master's in education research, the curriculum uses real trail camera footage from the TRM Ranch to teach biological principles grounded in actual wildlife science. His research found that viewing trail camera images in an educational setting increases students' wildlife identification skills, time spent outdoors, and belief in conservation — all through a format today's students genuinely connect with.

"This curriculum can be used by anyone, anywhere in the world, and ideally it will connect people to wildlife and nature in a way never done before." — Luke Coccoli

As digital learning continues to grow and evolve, educators are looking for content that's both standards-aligned and genuinely engaging. This curriculum meets both. Lessons follow Next Generation Science Standards and challenge students to analyze trail camera data, interpret ecosystem changes, and build evidence-based arguments about wildlife and land stewardship — skills that extend well beyond the classroom.

Trail cameras have been deployed on the ranch since 2012, capturing large and small game mammals, birds, bats, and plant life across variable seasons and ecotypes. The 190+ images across three modules give students rich, real-world data to work with.

What's Included:

Trail Camera 101 — Free
The perfect starting point. Introduces students to trail camera technology, wildlife biology, and the science behind working ranch conservation. Includes a 5-page PDF and 34-slide Google Slideshow.
Grades 5–8 | Earth Science, Environment, Computer Science

Modules 1, 2 & 3 — $10 each or all three for $25
Each module guides students through a series of trail camera images with worksheets, key vocabulary, activities, and teacher answer keys.

Trail Camera Lesson Plans

Buy all three Trail Camera Lesson Plans and save $5!

The bundle includes the following lesson plans:

Trail Camera 101
Trail Camera – The Grove
Trail Camera – The Hightower
Trail Camera – The North Fork

INTRODUCTORY LESSON PLAN – TRAIL CAMERA 101

What is wildlife? What are trail cameras and how do they work? All of that is answered right here in Wildlife Trail Camera 101!

This quick and easy tutorial highlights real-world wildlife research going on in Montana on a working cattle ranch! Teach your students about the technology, science and mathematical components of being a wildlife biologist while looking at actual trail camera photos!

Additional modules incuded with this bundle provide practice for students to test their wildlife identification skills while viewing a series of camera photographs, along with key words, worksheets, activities, and teacher answer keys. We recommend going through this introductory lesson plan for the Trail Camera series prior to utilizing the other lesson plans.

LESSON PLAN 1 – THE GROVE

The first of three modules that will provide practice for students to test their wildlife identification skills while viewing a full set of trail camera photographs. This module features images from The Grove camera and highlights topics such as identifying different species of deer and elk, multiple predator encounters, and the affect of weather on wildlife movement.

The PDF includes a link to the full, editable slide show with nearly 200 images from the trail camera, as well as a vocabulary/keyword sheet, word search activity, and worksheet complete with a teacher's guide.

LESSON PLAN 2 – THE HIGHTOWER

The second of three modules that will provide practice for students to test their wildlife identification skills while viewing a full set of trail camera photographs. This module features images from The Hightower camera and highlights topics such as monitoring deer movement, antler growth, extreme weather conditions, and wildlife behavior.

The PDF includes a link to the full, editable slide show with nearly 200 images from the trail camera, as well as a vocabulary/keyword sheet, printable crossword activity, and worksheet complete with a teacher's guide.

LESSON PLAN 3 – THE NORTH FORK

The third of three modules that will provide practice for students to test their wildlife identification skills while viewing a full set of trail camera photographs. This module features images from The North Fork camera and highlights topics such the variety of wildlife that occupies different locations, predator-prey relationships, the concepts of conservation and preservation, and tributaries.

The PDF includes a link to the full, editable slide show with nearly 200 images from the trail camera, as well as a vocabulary/keyword sheet, double word puzzle activity, and worksheet complete with a teacher's guide.