Fourteen states claim the square dance as their state dance. Seventeen states have a state beverage. Arizona’s official neckwear is the bolo tie. Utah’s state cooking pot is the Dutch oven. And Ohio may be adopting a state amphibian.

Amphibian populations across the nation are declining because of the rapid loss of wetlands, and as Ohio’s largest amphibian, the bullfrog helps to control insect populations across the state.

Enter Project Bullfrog, which aims to make the friendly frog Ohio’s state amphibian. The idea was generated by Sean Kaeser, social studies seminar teacher at Dublin’s Grizzell Middle School. Kaeser said he wanted to provide his students with a lesson in both civics and life science.

“Project Bullfrog helps raise awareness of amphibians in Ohio and, in some cases, the loss of their environment, as well as pollution. This project allows the state to bring attention to the plight of amphibians without spending any money,” Kaeser said.

Kaeser has assembled about 100 seventh and eighth graders to research the bullfrog and to lobby elected officials in the Ohio Legislature by means of phone calls and presentations.

“They are learning how to put pressure on their elected officials,” Kaeser said.

The idea was born in early 2002 when Kaeser’s students were completing an Ohio scavenger hunt. After learning about the state bird, animal and insect, they realized that the Buckeye state lacks an official amphibian.

The students began researching Ohio amphibians and decided the bullfrog was the best choice for many reasons, one being that it is found in all 88 Ohio counties.

“It is an amazing creature that eats almost anything. It also has name recognition, which is very important in politics,” Kaeser said.

The students’ next step was to write a bill and send it to the Ohio House of Representatives.

The bill, introduced to the House on April 23, 2002, was originally sponsored by state Rep. Teresa Fedor. When her Ohio Senate term began in 2003, Rep. Jim Hughes took over the sponsorship.

“I thought it was a great project, so I wanted to get involved. The wonderful thing about this bill is that it won’t cost taxpayers anything,” Hughes said.

Because the bill must pass both legislative chambers before Gov. Bob Taft can sign it into law, Kaeser has submitted it to the state Senate.

Fedor is sponsoring the Senate version of the bill.

Both bills have been sent to committee – the second step in the legislative process. They must be reviewed and passed by each committee and will then be presented to their respective chamber. If the bill receives a majority vote in both the House and Senate, it will be passed onto Taft, who can sign it into law.

“I am hopeful it will pass before this session is finished,” Hughes said.

“The Senate wants to get the first hearing done before the end of this session,” Fedor’s legislative aide said.

Though some time has passed since the first bill was introduced, Kaeser said this is another important lesson for his students to learn.

“The legislative process is a marathon, not a sprint,” he said. “I do feel good about it being passed during this session though.”

In December, the students will present their research to the House committee. Hughes will provide sponsor testimony at that time.

The pressure is on to get the bill passed because Lake Metroparks Children’s Schoolhouse Nature Park in Kirtland, Ohio, is planning to introduce legislation in 2004 that makes the American Toad the state amphibian.

If the Dublin students’ bill becomes law, Ohio will be the 10th state in the nation to have an official amphibian. In 1985, New Hampshire was the first state to designate a state amphibian. Other states that have a state amphibian are Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Tennessee, Texas and Vermont.

“This has been fun for us. The students have done a lot of research on why the bullfrog should be the state amphibian and they have all had fun with it,” Fedor’s aide said.

“Anyone who votes against this is really voting against the kids,” Kaeser said.