Crane Trunks

The International Crane Foundation’s education and outreach staff are delighted to share the story of cranes with you through the use of our educational Crane Trunks. Our Crane Trunks offer a variety of classroom activities and information to help students understand the historical and ongoing efforts to save crane species worldwide. These resources are available to borrow upon request.

Crane Trunk Details

Using a Crane Trunk in the classroom gives you and your students access to a wide variety of interactive learning tools. The trunks are designed to empower educators to share with their students the concepts of crane biology, ecology, conservation, folklore, culture, captive breeding, and reintroduction. The curriculum consists of a series of activities thoughtfully paired with hands-on learning tools, including a crane skull, bird flight diverters, and a captive-rearing crane puppet. The International Crane Foundation offers two distinct trunks: the Cranes of the World Trunk and the Whooping Crane Trunk.

The Cranes of the World Trunk introduces students to all 15 crane species and emphasizes global crane biology, culture, and conservation. This trunk is ideal for groups planning a visit to the Crane Discovery Center.

The Whooping Crane Trunk focuses specifically on the Endangered Whooping Crane, highlighting its unique life history, migration, and recovery efforts. This trunk is ideal for groups in North America who reside along the Whooping Crane flyways.

Reservations

Crane Trunks are available year-round. Reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis, so please note that demand may be higher in April, May, September, and October. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that our materials will be available on time with less than two weeks’ notice, so plan on requesting trunks at least one month in advance. Reservations may be made for seven days. You can choose to pick up or return your trunk at the International Crane Foundation’s headquarters in Baraboo, Wisconsin, or have materials shipped to you for a postage fee. Trunks shipped should be returned to the International Crane Foundation within 3 days after the end of the 7-day rental period. For directions to our site, click here.

To borrow a trunk, please complete the Crane Trunk Request Form. If you need additional assistance, please contact the Conservation Education Department at 608-356-9462 ext. 127.

If you are in Alabama or Indiana, please contact these organizations to borrow a Whooping Crane Trunk. Please remember that Crane Trunk rentals outside of the International Crane Foundation will not have the same contents.

If you are in Louisiana, please contact the Gulf Coast Whooping Crane Outreach Coordinator to borrow a Whooping Crane Trunk or K-12 program.

Combine with a Field Trip!

Using a Crane Trunk in the classroom provides a unique opportunity for students to explore the many aspects of crane conservation.

Combining this exploration with a field trip to the Crane Discovery Center gives students a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience they will never forget. Learn more about our school field trips.

Our Crane Trunks are sponsored by the Antonia Foundation – thank you!