Learning Landscapes
 |
 |
Utah The discovery of rare dinosaur bones and skin impressions in Utah has been documented in a major BLM educational project, "Discovering Dinosaurs," produced in 2001. But there are many other BLM educational programs in Utah relating to rock art, archaeology, prehistoric mammoths, and more. Public lands in the state make up 22 million acres (about 44 percent of the state). Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southeast Utah has a unique combination of archaeological, historical, geological, and paleontological resources. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry Utah Environmental Education Home Page SCHOOL PROGRAMS Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Phone: Environmental Education Programs Grand Staircase-Escalante Partners has created an on-line educational curriculum with units on archaeology, ecology, geology, paleontology, and human history. Units include student guide, student questions, and teacher resources. Curriculum can be found at: http://www.gsenmschool.org/ Kanab Field Office, Phone: (435) 644-4600 Earth Day Poster Contest This program teaches students about Earth Day and encourages them to express an annual theme through art. Entry forms are made available to local elementary, middle-school, and high-school students. Prizes are given for winners and all participants receive a certificate. Kanab Christmas Bird Count This program focuses on elementary-age students to teach them the basics of bird identification and participation in the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Each teacher is provided a PowerPoint presentation on bird identification; a bird identification book donated by the Glen Canyon Natural Heritage program; data sheets; and a presentation in the classroom, if requested. Richfield Field Office, Phone: (435) 896-1500 Nature High Summer Camp Open to all qualified and interested current high school students in Utah, this camp is designed to introduce and educate them about natural resources and science career opportunities. Participants receive career information and guidance in choosing related educational courses of study. The program includes a career fair, fieldwork with professionals in various natural resource fields, and integrated resource analysis activities. Cosponsored by Snow College, the camp is held at the Great Basin Environmental Education Center (GBEEC) in Ephraim Canyon. Vernal Field Office, Phone: (435) 781-4400 Smokey Bear Program This program teaches children about “good fire” and “bad fire,” and how to be fire-safe and “Firewise.” PAWS and Teach PAWS PAWS stands for “Plants, Animals, Water, Soils.” This program is offered for students during the school year, and during the summer, teachers can take a week-long program (“Teach PAWS”) for college credit. On request, BLM staff also give presentations on soils, archaeology, geology, water, plants, fire, and other topics. Everything Comes from the Earth This program teaches children respect for the earth and its natural resources. They’re shown actual earth materials and examples of the types of products that come from those natural resources. Reduce/Reuse/Recycle is also taught, to show how the products made from our natural resources can be kept out of our landfills. BEYOND SCHOOL Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Phone: Walks & Talks This program includes guided walks and auto tours of the National Monument as well as presentations by monument staff, local historians, and scientists conducting research on the monument. Kanab Field Office, Phone: (435) 644-4600 Kanab Christmas Bird Count This program features a PowerPoint that provides the basics of bird identification and the history of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Participants are given bird identification handouts, species lists, participation guidelines, and rules of the count. A question-and-answer period is included. Earth Day Festival The Earth Day Festival is a product of cooperation among local governments, Federal agencies, and volunteer groups. The festival helps colleges, tribes, local groups, and Federal agencies to provide information on conservation, recycling, wise land use, etc. Schoolchildren are the target audience for the program. Vernal Field Office, Phone: (435) 781-4400 Wildlife Refuges BLM staff present educational programs during Ouray National Wildlife Refuge’s annual “open house.”
National Fishing & Boating Week This celebration features exhibits, kids’ education, and public contact at the Jones Hole National Fish Hatchery. |
|