 |
| Winter 1999 |
| Learning Link - the Forest Service newsletter for Conservation Education.
To get on the mailing list, contact kimberly
anderson/r2@fs.fed.us. NOTE FROM THE EDITORS: Jeanie Thurmond will be transferring to the Targhee National Forest in Driggs, ID, as of March 15, 1999. Please note her change of email address below for future submissions of articles. Debbie remains at the Bridger-Teton and at the same address. - Jeanie Thurmond jthurmond/r4_targhee@fs.fed.us and Debbie Morlock email: dmorlock/r4_b-t@fs.fed.us. |
||
| RESOURCES |
||
| SUPPORT FOR WATERSHEDS | ||
| The Watershed Health Information Project (WHIP) commissioned focus groups
to discover attitudes towards several regional watersheds. They also sought to
identify barriers that prevent people from acting to protect their local
rivers, and to identify opportunities for motivating action. The research
included a focus group of registered voters and surveys of key decision-makers
and civic leaders. Research findings indicate that decision-makers and civic leaders believe the environment is doing well, while focus group participants think things are improving but more still needs to be done. This difference of opinion was especially pointed when talking about water quality - civic leaders were optimistic about the current state of local drinking water, citizens were not! Development and its consequences are seen as a significant threat to watersheds and water quality by leaders and citizens alike. At the same time, the word "watershed" is not well understood. WHIP partners will use these findings to craft messages targeted at: local, state and federal partners to gain their support for and involvement in local projects; land-use decision-makers to lend strength to arguments to protect local watersheds from further development; and to other key public audiences. For more information, contact Liz Raisbeck at River Network, (202) 364-2550 or lraisbeck@aol.com. NATIVE PLANT DIRECTORY |
||
| A master list is being built from the dozens of responses to a recent call
for native plant event entries. It will be loaded onto the website
(www.wildflower.org), and new information added as it becomes available. Thanks
for your help - So far the directory includes more than 200 events! 1999 NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT GRANTSSince 1990, $277 million in grant funds and $659 million in partner funds have been spent to protect and restore significant wetlands and associated uplands in the U.S., Canada and Mexico through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grants program. The primary objective is to generate partnerships through matching grants to protect and restore wetland ecosystems for migratory birds and fish and wildlife dependent on wetlands. Of special importance are projects that assist in meeting the goals of migratory bird conservation plans, such as the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Partners in Flight plans and the U.S. Shorebird Plan (in progress). A 1:1 non-Federal match is required. A pilot evaluation grants program is being conducted during 1999 to foster partnerships among wetland managers and scientists to generate information that will enhance NAWCA project effectiveness. About $40.5 million is available for FY 1999. The President's budget request for FY 2000 includes $15 million for NAWCA. SMALL GRANTS: Small grant (up to $50,000) proposals are due by December 3, 1999. For more information, contact Keith Morehouse at the address below or at: keith_morehouse@mail.fws.gov. STANDARD GRANTS: Standard grant ($50,001 - $1,000,000) proposals may be submitted at any time, but are due April 2 and August 6, 1999. Disk files contain a proposal outline, budget table and Technical Assessment Questions. Visit the NAWCA Web site at www.fws.gov/r9nawwo/index.html to find out when you will be able to download the standard grant booklet and disk files from the Internet. For information about U.S. grants, contact Bettina Sparrowe at the address below or via e-mail at bettina_sparrowe@mail.fws.gov. For information about Canadian and Mexican grants, contact Doug Ryan at the address below or via e-mail at doug_ryan@mail.fws.gov. EVALUATION GRANTS: Evaluation grant information will be available on the NAWCA Web site around June 1. Before that time, contact Rex Johnson at the address below or via e-mail at rex_johnson@mail.fws.gov. APPLICATION MATERIALS: Use the following to request application materials or information:
In addition to providing critical strategic direction for the Biodiversity Project, the new strategy group has articulated a mission statement, a simple "lay" description of biodiversity; and a new biodiversity message. In the coming year, this group will continue to provide strategic direction for the Biodiversity Project and will also serve as liaison to the greater environmental community as we work to build collaborative communications efforts. Biodiversity: The grand diversity of life and all the interconnections that support all life on Earth. Biodiversity Project Mission: To develop and disseminate the best practices in biodiversity outreach, and facilitate and serve as a catalyst for collaboration and capacity building among NGOs, grantmakers, and other institutions working to protect and restore biodiversity. Biodiversity Message: We have a responsibility to conserve and protect the grand diversity of life and all of nature's interconnections upon which we rely for healthy families and a healthy planet. We are undermining the earth's natural system by rapidly destroying [God's] creation - species and habitat - that cannot be replaced. This threatens our health and quality of life and that of current and future generations. We can reverse these trends NOW by making better choices as individuals, as communities, and as a country. Tool Shed: We've been working with a group of interested leaders to develop the blueprint for a cooperative clearinghouse of message and media outreach tools (a.k.a. the "tool shed"), to facilitate communications and media work in the environmental community. We now have a feasibility and start-up proposal, and are actively seeking grants to support the design and building phase of the tool shed. Training Initiative: We have also been working with environmental leaders to launch a collaborative training initiative that will build upon current training efforts to develop communications skills and capacity across the environmental movement. The training initiative will 1) Help solidify and strengthen the core organizations who are already providing leadership in training and capacity building; 2) Target training resources by issue and also by region/location to take advantage of strategic opportunities; and 3) Identify opportunities to train trainers to get new skills such as how to interpret polls and media analysis into trainers hands, and to broaden the reach. Biodiversity Education Network (BEN): A small working group of educators met to hash out some of the next steps in creating the BEN. They discussed a range of possible services, from setting up a Web site and listserve; to creating a data base; organizing theme-based conferences; developing a compendium of biodiversity education resources; piloting models; enhancing research and evaluation; focusing on training and leadership; and looking at innovative funding strategies. If you have any questions, please contact Judy Braus, (202) 778-9542, judy.braus@wwfus.org; or Carol Fialkowski, (312) 922-9410 x.629, cfialkowski@fmnh.org. Website: www.biodiversityproject.org The site is still under construction and very incomplete, but you should be able to get a sense of all the information that will be available in the near future. You can also now read our newsletters on-line. And we would love your input on what kinds of information would be useful to you in your work. Visit the site and send us your thoughts! If you would like us to add a name to our newsletter distribution list, please e-mail your request to mfarrior@cgbd.org. OHIO'S BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY: STRATEGIES AND TOOLS FOR CONSERVATION The Environmental Law Institute has just published this Ohio report which will serve as the basis for activists, government officials and others to develop a strategic approach to conserving the state's biodiversity. The report was published as part of ELI's state biodiversity strategies program, an ongoing effort to identify laws, policies, and institutions at the state and local level that can affect biodiversity for good or ill. The state biodiversity program, which started in Indiana and launched the Indiana Biodiversity Initiative (a multi-stakeholder coalition of environmental, state and federal agency, academia, corporate and farm interests), is now functioning in Delaware and Ohio also, and is in initial stages in New Jersey and New Mexico. For more information, contact Jessica Bennett at ELI, (202) 939-3866 or bennett@eli.org. |
||
| YOUTH OUTREACH |
||
| OREGON GOVERNORS' SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
CONFERENCE The Oregon Governors' School (OGS) in partnership with the Forest Service's High School Leadership Conference (HSLC) recruits about 60 high school students from diverse ethnic, socioeconomic, academic and geographical backgrounds into this year-long program designed to train them in "real world" issues and transform them into leaders, service providers and community problem-solvers. It begins with a three-week summer institute held at Willamette University in Salem, OR. Then students begin the "Youth Initiative" phase of the program in which they assess the needs of their communities and address them through individual and group projects that they initiate. The Forest Service provides the natural resource education component, including real hands-on work with both immediate and future benefits. In 1998, students studied two creeks, Mansfield Creek located on the Detroit Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest and Pringle Creek, an urban stream located near Willamette University. Both streams were in need of improvement. Mansfield was hit hard by the floods of 1996 and was stripped of much of its streamside vegetation. A mere fraction of the salmonids that resided in the stream prior to the flood now remain. Pringle Creek once also had numerous salmonids, but because of human impact now supports mostly bottom grazers. Students performed water quality monitoring, streamside vegetation monitoring, fish counts, pebble counts, macro-invertebrate counts, and surveys of social perceptions of water management. Students participated in a storm drain stenciling project to help residents of Salem recognize that water entering storm drains doesn't travel to waste water treatment plants, but flows into urban streams and eventually the Willamette River. Finally, students compiled all the information they had gathered and recommended to managers possible restoration activities, including tree planting, education and redirecting human impact. The information gathered by the students was real and useful to the Forest Service and the city of Salem for making management decisions. For more information, contact Joanne West, Project Coordinator, Sweet Home Ranger District, 541-367-5168. 6TH GRADERS IN KEMMERER, WY, MANAGE DEMONSTRATION FOREST The Kemmerer Middle School Demonstration Forest is an environmental education effort between the 6th Grade students, faculty and the Kemmerer Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The project began in 1994 through the efforts of Natural Resource Specialist George Walker and Middle School Teacher Al Walker (no relationship). Other members of the community have volunteered their time to work with the students throughout the planning and implementation of the projects. Pacific Power donated funds to the school for purchase of equipment and Wyoming Game and Fish personnel provided expertise throughout the entire process. The initial plan was developed during the 1994 - 95 school year by Mr.Walker's students. Participation has since expanded to include all of the 6th grade classes in the Kemmerer Middle School (3). Annually, Forest Service specialists work with students in four resource groups (Aspen/sagebrush, Conifer, Fisheries, and Recreation) to develop a management plan, present the plan to a Forest Service line officer, complete NEPA assessments, identify projects, and implement projects on the ground. Forest Service specialists spend time in the classrooms with students to instruct them in the purpose of the Demonstration Forest; the creation of the National Forest System; organization of the Forest Service; laws relating to the management of national forest lands; principles of ecology; the role of fire in the ecosystem; fisheries management; population dynamics and habitat; terrestrial wildlife management; and management plan development. The students also spend time in their forest with resource specialists collecting data and learning how to measure the heights of trees, how to evaluate recreation impacts, how to identify various stages of succession, and many more data gathering techniques. Through this interaction the students gain valuable social skills, use math skills, and increase written and oral communication skills. After data gathering, students are assisted by resource specialists to interpret the data collected; identify existing conditions; develop issues and draft a letter to the public to seek additional issues; review public comments and develop goals and objectives; write desired future conditions; and develop project lists that will move the forest from existing condition to desired future condition. Once the management plan is completed, the students present their plan. After the plan is accepted and signed off by a Forest Service official, the students develop a NEPA letter that identifies the projects they are proposing to complete and identify any known environmental effects of implementing their proposed projects. When the NEPA process is completed and summer arrives, the student, teachers, and Forest Service employees return to the 600 acre Demonstration Forest to complete the projects identified. Through this ongoing effort, over 270 students have participated in the Forest Plan development. Each one of them now has a better understanding of the management of national forest lands and their parents and teachers do, also. Cooperative efforts like these allow for improved management of forest lands, ensure a better understanding of forest management by the public, and develop closer relationships between the Forest Service and the communities we serve. For more information, contact Keith Chasteen, 307-739-5116, keith chasteen/r4_b-t@fs.fed.us |
||
| PROGRAMS |
||
| URBAN TREE HOUSE PROPOSAL FOR MILWAUKEE
WISCONSIN After being an idea for several years, a proposal to develop an Urban Tree House in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is finally off the ground and running. Spearheading the effort is America's Outdoors Center for Conservation, Recreation and Resources. The Center is an interagency effort by the Forest Service (Eastern Regional Office), the National Park Service, and the Bureau of Land Management to provide federal recreation information, educational materials and programs, and technical assistance for developing green space within neighborhoods to the urban population of Metro Milwaukee. America's Outdoors is at the very beginning stages of developing the proposal for the Milwaukee UTH. We have had informal discussions with city, county, and state agencies, and many local organizations. These agencies and organizations have expressed a high level of interest in bringing an UTH to Milwaukee. Based on this level of interest, we are developing the process by which a site location, and a site organization will be selected. We hope to have a selection by early September 1999. From there we will develop an organization of partners, and contributors to design and build the structure, to develop programming, and to start operation of the UTH. The Urban Tree House (UTH) idea began in Atlanta GA in 1991, and has since spread to other locations including Washington, DC; Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; and Los Angeles, CA. It is an urban based program designed to foster a responsible environmental stewardship ethic among youth and to increase public awareness and appreciation of our natural resources. By involving youth at relatively young ages in activities and events that teach them about the environment, it is hoped they will apply what they have learned to their every day life, and be inspired to consider careers in natural resource management as they grow older. The UTH itself consists of a place or structure where professionals and interested persons from government agencies, universities, industry, local organizations and the surrounding neighborhood conduct educational programs on resource related topics. These lessons are offered throughout the year. Each UTH is different based on the composition of the partnership that develops. While a federal agency may spearhead the effort, decisions on location, configuration of the structure, etc., are determined by the partnership. For information, contact Barbara Forderhase, Public Affairs Specialist, USDA Forest Service / America's Outdoors |
||
| UPCOMING EVENTS |
||
| MOOSE CONFERENCE The 35th North American Moose Conference & Workshop will be May 15-20 at Grand Portage, MN. A key feature will be the field trip to Isle Royal National Park, MI. For further information contact Bill Peterson, MN-DNR, PO Box 115, Grand Marais, MN 55604. Phone 218.387.3034 or 218.387.1082. FAX 218.387.3035. E-mail Mooses@boreal.org |
||
| HARRY CRADLE OF FORESTRY HISTORIC SITE | |
 |
Pisgah National Forest, Brevard, NC, open daily, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 1999 Events Season: April 17 - October 31. For more information: (828) 877-3130, or www.cradleofforestry.com. |
|
April 24 - May 24 - Appalachian Spring Celebration: The warm winds of spring bring opportunities to get out in the woods and have fun learning about the diversity of native wildflowers, birds and waterfalls. An annual Spring photography contest will be on display as well. Call for a daily schedule. |
|
May 9 - Mother's Day and Trees in May: A celebration of moms and the spring forest with craft and interpretive activities for the whole family. |
|
May 15 - Migratory Bird Day: A day for the birds! Guided bird walks, activities on adaptations, natural history, and migration patterns. |
|
June 12- 20 - Happy Trails Week: Come over the river and through the woods to fun-filled forest recreation! A Trails Expo Day, a llama trek, fly-fishing, guided hikes, and orienteering are just some of the activities offered during Happy Trails Week. |
|
June 20 - Father's Day in the Forest: Spend the day with dad in the forest. Enjoy fly-fishing demonstrations, horseshoes, wood carving, whittling, and frisbee golf. |
|
July 10-18 Bogs, Bugs, and Beavers: All week long we will examine wetland ecosystems of the Pink Beds valley with guided hikes and pond and stream explorations. A hands-on "lab" investigating amphibians, reptiles, and insects will be among the special children's activities featured. |
|
August 7 - Smokey Bear's Birthday Party: A celebration of Smokey's 55th birthday with skits, games, music, a puppet show, birthday cake, firefighting equipment demonstrations, and Smokey Bear! |
|
October 2 - Forest Festival Day: More than 50 craftsmen, exhibitors, and entertainers gather at the Cradle of Forestry to celebrate the richness of our forests and our forest heritage. Enjoy mountain music as you stroll the trails at the Cradle talking to wood carvers, weavers, quilters, a toy maker, a potter, and a blacksmith. Don't forget to cheer as college forestry students compete in a Woodsmen's Meet. |
|
October 2 - Woodsmen's Meet: Cheer as college forestry students compete in axe throwing, crosscut sawing, speed chopping, log rolling, and the obstacle course. The competition takes place during the Forest Festival Day event and is held out in the corral at the Cradle of Forestry. |
|
October 29-30 - "The Legend of Tommy Hodge:" Over time, a mystery becomes a legend and a legend grows in the telling! It was Halloween night in 1906 when a student by the name of Tommy Hodges disappeared. Some say they still see and hear Tommy in the forest! "The Legend of Tommy Hodges" is an evening outdoor drama put on by Brevard Little Theatre, the Cradle of Forestry staff, and Pisgah Forest Riding Stables. Shows at 6:00 p.m. and at 7:15 p.m. |
|
New in 1999 - The Carl Alwin Schenck
Education Wing consists of a conference room, two classrooms and offices. First
events to be held in the new education wing: March 19-21 - Sharing the Joy of Nature Workshop with Joseph Cornell March 30-31 - Project Wet Workshop |
| |
|
 |
Return to Conservation Education home page |