Natural
Resources in the Classroom
The
goal of the Natural Resources in the Classroom program is to link
interested teachers with natural resource professionals who are
willing to visit classrooms and help students to understand and
appreciate forests and the forestry profession.
Initiated in 1995 by the Southern Chapter, the program has
grown to become a statewide effort reaching over one thousand
school children annually. Natural
resource education has come alive for Minnesota school kids thanks
to the dedication of natural resource professionals who, like you,
are committed to the stewardship of our forest land and believe in
the value of natural resource education.
Know
a teacher that might be interested?
Teachers
love this program for many reasons. Probably
the biggest reason is because it’s free!
All our programs are provided at no cost to the teachers or
school districts. Most
of our speakers have the support of their employers and are able
to make classroom visits as part of their job.
In addition to live presentations, we can also supply a
variety of educational materials, such as videotapes, CD-ROMs and
other items that teachers can use on their own.
Think
you might be interested?
We
are always on the lookout for people who are interested in natural
resource education. As
a Natural Resources in the Classroom volunteer, you can help open
kids’ eyes to the wonders of natural resources and expose them
to the many career possibilities as a natural resource
professional. Classroom
visits need not require a great deal of time or preparation.
A typical classroom visit lasts about an hour and might
include a talk about the importance of forestry and the value of
trees, or maybe a walk outside demonstrating tree measurement or
identifying trees. Most
volunteers find classroom visits to be rewarding and worthwhile
and many feel that they benefit more from the experience than the
kids do!
If
you are a teacher or resource professional and are interested in
finding out more about this program and how you might get
involved, please call:
Dennis
McDougall - USFS
1992 Folwell Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
dmcdougall@fs.fed.us
651-649-5182
