News.bytes Extra, issue 538

"City Kids" explore the forest with BLM Youth Staff

Young adults in the BLM Youth Initiative Incentive program pitched in to support California State Parks for summer environmental education. Campers ages 8-13 from the San Bernardino Unified School District CAPS (Creative Afterschool Program  for Success) program enjoyed several days in the forest and a variety of outdoor learning activities.

BLM’s youth crew  worked with  Mount San Jacinto State Park staff and volunteers  to provide a wide range of experiences  about Leave No Trace (LNT) ethics, mammal skins and skulls, pine trees, geology and bird behaviors. Though the group was large -- over 80 campers per day -- for many it was their first visit to a forest. For all, it was memorable.

More than 12,000 children at 48 school sites in San Bernardino and Highland attend the CAPS program.

A special lesson presented by BLM youth reviewed physical adaptations of birds.

Campers then were taught how to use binoculars, and were given a data sheet.

A camper records behaviors of birds that she observed in the forest.

State Park staff provided exciting specimens for hands-on learning

- Tracy Albrecht, interpretive specialist, Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument/BLM Palm Springs South Coast Field Office  (July 2012)

BLM-California News.bytes, issue 538 -- To subscribe to News.bytes, send an e-mail to: mailto:Join-Newsbytes@List.ca.blm.gov OR visit our News.bytes subscription page.