Outdoor Education Commons^™

A Conversation With Christy Merrick, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

A Taproot: Journal of Outdoor Education interview with Christy Merrick, Director of the Natural Start Alliance that explores the mission of the Alliance and the North American Association’s special programs designed to connect young children to nature. Discusses role of parents, preschools, nature centers, zoos, and other community organizations.

Discovering The Path To Indian Uses Of Native California Plants: A Family Activity Guide For The Native Plant Garden At The San Bernardino County Museum, Lauren Anne Trish Holman

Theses Digitization Project

The objective of this project is to develop an activity guide for the California native plant trail located adjacent to the San Bernardino County Museum that allows families to discover native California plants while increasing environmental and cultural sensitivity.

Source Evaluation And Selection For Interpretation In Sequoia And Kings Canyon National Parks, Lacey Elizabeth Moore

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to aid interpreters in evaluation sources (research material) for use in interpretive presentations and programs in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. This was done by illustrating the need for source evaluation and then developing the guidelines for selecting, evaluating, and most effectively using various sources in the development of interpretive programs in the National Parks Services (NPS).

The Children's Forest Association Fire Ecology Hike, Michael Stephen Dufilho

Theses Digitization Project

This project provides a fire ecology lesson to accompany a hike for student groups from fourth through eighth grade. The lesson plan will acquaint students with the beneficial aspects of forest fires.

Rebuilding A Sense Of Place, Inara Scott

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

For many environmentalists, Aldo Leopold's work provides an enduring ethic for conservation and preservation. Yet even while Leopold's ideals continue to be valued, taught, and ascribed to, it seems that more and more people are saying the words without experiencing the message. Even those who profess to be environmentalists rarely know the sense of place chat inspired Leopold, Muir and Thoreau. Through the increasing geographic mobility of people throughout the United States, and the associated loss of community, our nation is rapidly losing the sense of place chat these men, and many other men and women throughout our history, once …

Diversifying The Conservation Workforce, Lisa K. Younger

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

Recent studies conducted by the Environmental Careers Organization and SCA reveal that the supply and demand for women and people of color in the environmental field is critically unbalanced, and that America's environmental organizations are "ill-prepared" to recruit and retain talented people of color.

This lack of representation by women and minorities - who comprise a growing proportion of our nation's available labor force - inhibits not only the diversity and growth of the conservation workforce, but also its credibility and effectiveness. Such failures to keep pace with changing demographic realities leave the conservation movement and workforce unprepared to solve …

A Guide For Extending Nature Lessons At The Yakima Arboretum, Kathleen D. Brown

All Graduate Projects

The importance of providing a hands on natural environment curriculum was examined. Sources from 1938-1996 were found supporting the importance of such a curriculum. A search was conducted on the availability of a natural habitat curriculum that used a local resource. The search discovered the Yakima Arboretum had seven areas of interest along with a packet of brief lesson suggestions. These lessons were extended to include classroom activities that would provide students with background knowledge prior to a field trip to the Arboretum.

A Guide For Extending Nature Lessons At The Yakima Arboretum, Marilou Cori Kinder

All Graduate Projects

The importance of providing a hands on natural environment curriculum was examined. Sources from 1938-1996 were found supporting the importance of such a curriculum. A search was conducted on the availability of a natural habitat curriculum that used a local resource. The search discovered the Yakima Arboretum had seven areas of interest along with a packet of brief lesson suggestions. These lessons were extended to include classroom activities that would provide students with background knowledge prior to a field trip to the Arboretum.

A Framework For Diversity: Creating A Multiculturally Diverse Profession, Katherine James

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

Katherine James spoke as a member of the featured panel "Creating a multiculturally diverse profession" at the 1994 Coalition for Education in the Outdoors and New York State Outdoor Education Association conference held October 7-10 in Cortland. NY. A summary of her remarks, revised for publication, is presented in this article.

Spotlight, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

Contains articles highlighting current issues in the field. In this issue: resources from ERIC Clearinghouse on Rural Education and Small Schools (ERIC/CRESS), and efforts in Illinois to strengthen environmental education, among others.

Resources, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

This section contains a listing of teaching resources of all types for those who work in outdoor education field at time of publication. Some items highlighted include: Adopt-an-Animal programs, environmental education curricula available for review.

Common Ground: Education, Recreation, And The Environment, Curt Schatz, Tehri Parker

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

Outdoor recreation programs and outdoor education programs share "common ground" - a similar purpose and programmatic focus on environmental awareness and ethics. As Ford ( 1981) has suggested, "there is very little difference between an education program and a recreation program" - both "contribute to the individual's ability to function effectively in society" (p. 50). Despite their similarities, education and recreation in the outdoors are traditionally separated, and one is emphasized over the other as the substance" of what is offered in a program. While they often contain a recreational element, environmental education programs tend to emphasize knowledge as an …

The Myths Of Outdoor And Adventure Recreation And The Environmental Ethos, Gary Morgan

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

Professionals in the outdoor recreation and education fields are often looked upon as champions of the environmental cause. A number of assumptions appear to be made to this end. Yet, many of these assumptions may be based in myth. The intent of this article is to highlight the major arguments put forward supporting the significance of outdoor and adventure recreation as tools to develop a new environmental ethos; identify the assumptions within the arguments; and then expose the potential myths surrounding the assumptions.The arguments put forth in support of outdoor and adventure recreation are based on an article in the …

A Student Handbook For The Environmental Education / Outdoor School Program In The Middle School, Robert Charles Kenck Jr.

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a student handbook that can be used from the onset of an environmental study through the inter-active field study. Students will use the handbook as they begin to study environmental education in the classroom. The handbook will continue to be used as each student attends a three day outdoor school to study firsthand their environment through field activities. The handbook will remain the property of the students.