Hands on the Land

The Bureau of Land Management’s Hands on the Land program is a national network of field classrooms that connects students, teachers, and community volunteers to America’s public lands. This program brings classroom learning to life through hands-on learning in natural, historical, and archaeological settings. Through Hands on the Land, students explore the local environment and learn about careers in natural resources. Through partnerships with local schools and communities, students investigate 21st century issues affecting land managers and make deeper connections to the natural world within the context of identified standards of educational excellence.

At Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in Colorado, students work in the monument doing jobs such as measuring and estimation math exercises; evaluation of ancient landscapes; and native plant and wildlife identification.  At the White Mountains National Recreation Area in Alaska, students focus on snow sciences and participate in snow and ice surveys for use in the natural sciences and math curriculum. Studies have shown that taking learning outside will increase student achievement, as well as students’ sense of self-respect and responsibility as stewards of the environment. 

Visit the Hands on the Land website to find sites near you.