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Kids and Forestry
Dateline: 1/11/98 updated 1/26/99
Go grab your child and tell him or her that you have a great place to explore the natural world and specifically forests and their denizens. Obviously you have an interest in forests and trees (or you would not be here) and the educational sources on the Internet are growing. Still there is not an overwhelming volume of sites.
First read ERIC 's getting online. This feature gives tips on how to find student information on the WWW.
From here you can find sites on how to work with you child to be environmentally and outdoors aware. Then guide them to sites that inform and entertain. Here are several good ones I have found.
Project Learning Tree - This site is more for educators and parents than for kids. But it probably has the most value for the future of our children understanding the forest than any other site on the World Wide Web. If you are concerned that your child has an appropriate environmental experience make sure your local science teachers sign up.
" PLT is an award-winning, interdisciplinary environmental education program for educators working with students in PreK through grade 12. PLT helps students gain awareness and knowledge of the natural and built environment, their place within it, as well as their responsibility for it." PLT Director Kathy McGlauflin is the 1997 winner of the prestigious Walter Jeske award. Presented by the North American Association for Environmental Education.
Smokey Says - Strictly a kids site here. It is fairly sophisticated site using Shockwave; and you must have either IE 3.0 or Netscape 3.0. Smokey will tell you all the things Smokey has told for generations but with a high-tech flavor. Point to Smokey's nose and see what happens.
Print out these pages and have fun learning about fire safety! Smokey will post a different coloring book page or game every day, so check back often to collect lots of Smokey's fire safety tips.
Wildlife Games - National Wildlife Federation - One of the best kids sites on the net with several great games. Its really short but gives insight into just what edutainment in forests and wildlife can be do. Obviously, the NWF would like you to wander of onto their other "more pressing and deserving" locations. I would suggest you do.
But stay here just a bit and have fun identifying animal prints, creating funny stories in MADLIBZ (I loved this one), Rick's riddle picks, A Quiz, and much more!
Arbor Day - Teaching Youth About Trees
The National Arbor Day Foundation has established a reputation for the quality of its educational tools, which are designed to help young people understand the importance of trees, tree planting, and wise environmental stewardship. A wide variety of curriculum kits, booklets, tapes, posters, flyers, newsletters, and other materials prepared by the Foundation are available to teachers and educators.
Idaho Forests Kid Site on Trees - Much tree stuff including, bugs, creatures, making paper, projects...
Making Pencils - From the Incense Cedar Institute...
National Geographic's "Fantastic Forest"
Once Upon a Tree - A collection of very graphic short stories for small kids based on the TV show...
Paper University - All you need to know about makin' paper from TAPPI...
The Wonderful World of Trees - Domtar's very able description of trees, seasons, science projects...
www. family.com Outdoor Play - Adopt a tree, animal footprints, compass explorer, leaf press...
Links to Kids and the Forestry/Environmental Experience:
