Learning Landscapes
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Nevada About 48 million acres of Nevada are public lands—more than 68 percent of the state. But while the state still has sparsely populated areas, Nevada is also one of the fastest growing states in the U.S. Near the growing metropolis of Las Vegas, public lands must handle growing crowds as well as provide environmental protection. In the northwestern part of the state, the flat dry lakebed called the Black Rock playa attracts land-speed fans, arts festivals, and historic trail enthusiasts. A key educational focus of the region is the proper use of "Leave No Trace" principles on the public lands. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
SCHOOL PROGRAMS High School Science Fair Judging BLM specialists serve as judges at yearly science fairs, evaluating projects and giving feedback to the students. California Trail Gold Rush BLM presents a historical perspective on the California Trail and the Gold Rush. Western Folklife Week BLM specialists give students at Spring Creek Elementary School presentations on western folklife, including the prehistory of local Native Americans, stock dog demonstrations, and the history of wild horses and burros. Western Folklife Week takes place in conjunction with the annual Cowboy Poetry Festival. Carlin Schools Environmental Education A BLM specialist visits the school to teach a hands-on session on mining reclamation. Lamoille Canyon 5th Grade Field Trip BLM employees set up stations in a local campground. Students visit stations in groups and attend 25-minute presentations on various environmental topics. Grammar #2 Reading Program As part of a national reading program, BLM employees read kindergarten-3rd grade students a story about sheep grazing, using a sheepdog to keep their attention. Lamoille Grove Field Trip The purpose of this field trip for students from Spring Creek Elementary is to explain the processes, purposes, and methods of wildland fire rehabilitation.
This week-long teacher workshop, focusing on different topics each year, provides information and lesson plans to assist with teaching about the Great Basin physical environment. Growing up in the Desert This 1.5-hour program introduces kids to insects and tortoise adaptations, seasonal changes, and safety considerations related to weather in and around the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Scorching Hot or Freezing Cold This 1.5-hour program introduces kids to weather-related concepts, weather tools, adaptations of animals to seasonal changes, and safety considerations related to weather in and around the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Adapt or Die This 1.5-hour program for 3rd graders takes kids through a “compare and contrast” exercise on the desert tortoise and other desert wildlife in and around the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center. Rocky Trails This 1.5-hour program for 3rd graders takes kids through a “compare and contrast” exercise on the sedimentary deposits and fossils in and around the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center area. Home Means Red Rock Canyon This 1.5-hour program for 4th graders takes kids through an investigation of the living “state symbols” that make Red Rock Canyon their home, focusing on how these animals have adapted to conditions in and around the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center area and at a site within the canyon. Water We Doing Here? This 1.5-hour program for 4th graders takes kids through an exploration of the water cycle and how people can affect local water in and around the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center area and at a spring site. Changing Landscapes This 1.5-hour program for 5th graders gives kids an opportunity to view the results of the powerful geological forces that have sculpted the landscape in and around the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center area and at a canyon site. Biodiversity: A Delicate Balance This 1.5-hour program for 5th graders gives kids an opportunity to explore the meaning of biodiversity in action by conducting a transect in the field near the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center and finding what a “model” tortoise needs to survive. Explore the Great Outdoors- Part 1 This eight-hour teacher workshop introduces teachers to BLM; the natural and cultural history of the Mojave Desert and Red Rock Canyon; logistics for field trips to Red Rock Canyon; and conservation/Leave No Trace considerations for their classes. The workshop also includes an introduction to using a popular trail at Explore the Great Outdoors- Part 2 As Part 2, this eight-hour teacher workshop provides more in-depth information on BLM; the natural and cultural history of the Mojave Desert and It Has Spines This 1.5-hour program for kindergarten-grade 1 takes kids through an investigation of plants and how to identify native vegetation based on multi-sensory activities in and around the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center area. What's a Desert? This 1.5-hour program for kindergarten-grade 1 takes kids through a diverse collection of wildlife and flora and engages them in multi-sensory activities in and around the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center area. Mojave Max Education Program This 45-minute program introduces kids to the desert tortoise, adaptations, conservation tips, and people’s role in protecting threatened and endangered species. Science Teaching Methods with Tortoise This two-day teacher course on tortoise ecology, threatened and endangered species, and curriculum integration is offered for Professional Development Credit. Science Teaching Methods with Wild Horse & Burro This two-day teacher course on wild horse and burro ecology, range, weeds, and curriculum integration is offered for Professional Development Credit. Mojave Max Volunteer Educator Training This intensive, four-week training course prepares volunteers to present a curriculum about the threatened desert tortoise, desert conservation, and outdoor ethics. College credit is offered for qualified individuals. Nevada Outdoor School (NOS) Outdoor education lessons are offered to local schools for students ranging from K-12 and beyond. Lessons are place-based, use the scientific inquiry approach, and meet Nevada State Department of Education Standards. In addition, interpretive kits for ecological and historical sites of interest in the area include sections on pre-history, history, native plants and animals, outdoor ethics, visitor information, and lesson plans/activities. Kits can be used in the classroom for thematic units or on field trips to any of the areas. Interpretive kits and lessons can be viewed and downloaded from www.nevadaoutdoorschool.org/ BEYOND SCHOOL Earth Day BLM offers general program information at an off-site Earth Day fair. Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area,Phone: (702) 515-5000
The Las Vegas Astronomy Club offers the use of telescopes and a short presentation on the night sky and related topics at the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center. Red Rock Photo Contest This contest for people of all ages accepts photographs in categories such as “Black and White,” “Panoramic,” “Nature,” and “Abstract.” Boy Scout EXPO BLM staff give a presentation on Tread Lightly! and Leave No Trace Principles for the Red Rock Day BLM staff provide general resource information to the public and organize volunteer work projects for this annual event. Spring Fling BLM staff from Red Rock Canyon provide general resource information to the public at this annual on-site fair. Las Vegas, Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area,Phone: (702) 515-5000
This tour offers information on the cultural and natural history of Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. Winnemucca Field Office, Phone: (775) 623-1712
This annual event, held at the Wilson Ranch outside Winnemucca, is sponsored by BLM and 11 other area businesses and agencies. Winnemucca Field Office, Phone: (775) 623-1712
Once-a-week program in which Winnemucca Junior High and High School students come together after school to engage in service learning projects. Students participate in the process of identifying problems in the community, then develop and implement a solution. These projects benefit the community and increase student’s awareness of volunteerism. Nevada Outdoor School (NOS) Summer Camp Programs Programs range from “Nature at Noon” for children going into preschool through second grade, to a Girls’ Camp for girls entering 5th and 6th grades, to an Adventure Camp, an indoor and outdoor science camp for students entering 3rd-8th grades. Each offers age-appropriate activities focusing on nature and the outdoors. Nevada Outdoor School (NOS) Backpacking Adventures High school students participate in 6-to-8-day backpacking trips where they learn about natural resources in a backcountry environment. Outdoor specialists teach participants about the native wildlife habitats, river and lake ecology, as well as the historical and cultural significance of the area. Locations vary from year to year. Nevada Outdoor School (NOS) Volunteer Projects A wide range of volunteer events, including National Public Lands Day, are co-sponsored by NOS and BLM. And each year on Memorial Day weekend, NOS partners with the Friends of the Black Rock and BLM to host a 3-day volunteer training event in the Black Rock Desert. |
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