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Outdoor learning
opportunities and resources:
Walk
in the Forest guide:
This
guide will help you plan an event for adults, families, students or
teachers. Walk in the Forest helps audiences of all ages unplug from
their busy lives andwitness the wonder of nature. It provides a great
opportunity for people to appreciate forests, and to teach others about the
benefits forests provide and how forest management can enhance those
benefits.
http://www.forestfoundation.org/stuff/contentmgr/files/1/c7c1a640537d942961a0ec5b1096c43c/pdf/walk_in_the_forest.pdf
"Forests
provide the best land cover when it comes to protecting soil, moderating
streamflow, supporting healthy aquatic systems, and sustaining good water
quality." Barnes et. al. 2009 Forests Water & People
Link
to A Maine Forest Service PowerPoint: Maine Forests Produce Excellent Water
Quality The
Kennebec Woodland Partnership is a county-based initiative launched in 2009 to
provide tools and strategies to help landowners make informed decisions about
their woodlands and ensure a sustainable future for the county’s forests.
http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/kennebecwoodlands
The Maine
Environmental Education Association (MEEA)
facilitates and promotes environmental education in Maine through the
sharing of ideas, resources, information, and cooperative programs among
educators, organizations, and concerned individuals. MEEA is built on the
strengths and contributions of our members.
www.meeassociation.org
Created in 1982, MEEA helps
organizations, schools, groups, educational programs, and individuals
promote and expand environmental education in Maine. In addition, MEEA acts
as a clearing house, keeping groups and individuals informed of issues and
events in the field of environmental education. We believe conserving
Maine's rich cultural and natural heritage requires an environmentally aware
citizenship.
MEEA is an affiliate of the New
England Environmental Education Alliance and the North
American Association of Environmental
Forests
of the United States: Understanding Trends and Challenges
Lead Author: Steve Bratkovich
Is the forest area of the
U.S. shrinking or expanding? Does annual tree growth exceed harvest? Is the
amount of wood in our forests increasing or decreasing? Are our forests
sustainable? In part, the answers depend on your perspective (local vs.
national), timeframe (decades or centuries vs. a few years) and definitions
(e.g., What is a forest? What is sustainability?).
This report is a brief
overview of the status of U.S. forests and an update to an earlier Dovetail
report. This report is predominantly based on two recent publications from the
U.S. Forest Service – The National Report on Sustainable Forests-2010
(published in 2011) and Forest Resources of the United States-2007 (published in
2009).
To download the full report: http://www.dovetailinc.org/files/DovetailUSForests0312.pdf
Looking for a concise and
illustrated guide to understanding trees? The following site is perfect for
student research and use with your outdoor learning experiences:
The “Silvics of North
America” Volume 1 –Conifers and Volume 2 – Hardwoods provide a maximum age
attained for each species. http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_of_contents.htm
Recommended
Websites Featuring information on Children & Nature
Children
& Nature Network: Building a Movement to Reconnect Children and Nature.
No
Child Left Inside:
A special initiative of Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell,
coordinated by the Connecticut Department of Environmental
Protection to encourage Connecticut families and visitors alike
to enjoy all the recreational resources and outdoor activities
available in Connecticut's state parks, forests and
waterways. From Kent Falls in Kent to Stratton Brook in
Simsbury to Fort Trumbull in New London, it's time to discover
the great outdoors!
Take-it-Outside: Take it Outside is an initiative led by
former Governor John E. Baldacci to encourage Maine's children and families to reconnect with nature. Take it Outside! is your one-stop shopping information source for year-round outdoor recreation opportunities in Maine.
Learn Outside: Project Learning Tree offers multi-disciplinary tools and resources for educators who want their students to learn about the natural world … by being there.
Website links to the Maine Learning Results & the National Common Core
Standards
Maine
Learning Results: Maine’s Learning Results serve as the focal point for state and local efforts to improve student learning, define professional development needs, update local curriculum and instructional practices, and assess student achievement. The Learning Results web pages provide information about the rich activity currently underway both in the Department and in schools and educational organizations around the state.
The Common Core State
Standards: The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy.
The
PLT PreK-8 Guide - Resources by Activity:
www.plt.org
Click
On: Resources then PreK-8 Guide Resources by Activity
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