National Gifford Pinchot Award Winner Announced
Sandra Frost of the Cordova Ranger District, Chugach National Forest, was awarded the Gifford Pinchot Award for Excellence in Interpretation. The award was presented by R2 Regional Forester Lyle Laverty on behalf of Chief Mike Dombeck. The award was presented to Sandy on November 9th at the NAI Workshop in Beaumont, Texas. More details in the next issue. Congratulations to Sandy and other regional winners.

Columbia River Salmon Run
As summer ended and the autumn air arrived, adult salmon returned up the Columbia River. The Fish and Wildlife Service welcomed visitors to watch the fish return, to see the spawning process and to learn more about salmon. At the Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery, Underwood, Washington, tulefall chinook salmon begin spawning the week of Sept 15. To observe future running of these salmon and for more information call (509) 538-2242. At the Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery, Cook, Washington, coho and Up-river bright fall chinook salmon begin to spawn about Oct. 27. Call the hatchery at (509)538-2755 in mid-Oct. for spawning information. Something interesting to observe whenever you're out this way! Katherine C. Bowman:R6/PNW

Celebrating Science
Digging into the past with an archaeologist, exploring a cave formed by lava, observing the forest's recovery from fire ..... these are some of the experiences in science that the Coconino National Forest offered to participants in Flagstaff, Arizona's annual Festival of Science. In addition to sending our land management scientists into classrooms and public lectures after school, the Forest Service highlighted where our science happens, out on the ground (and underground, in the case of the lava cave.) The week-long fall event brings together public agencies and private corporations to celebrate the tradition, the present and the future of science in our community. Karen Malis-Clark, Coconino NF: R03F04A

Being in Two Places at Once
Wouldn't it be great to be able to accomplish this when the need arises? When planning a field trip for 120 7th graders with only two interpreters? At the Cradle of Forestry? in the Pisgah NF we feel we often can, thanks to high quality exhibits and self-guided activities that facilitate interaction with them. For the youngest visitors and non-readers we have scavenger hunt sheets with drawings created by a volunteer of animals and objects that can be found among the exhibits. A more challenging option for older children only uses words. A "fact safari" was developed for 7th graders and older that requires students to read text, listen to audio, and manipulate certain exhibits to find answers. A shorter simpler version is offered to 5th and 6th graders, and also to non-student visitors. With one or two classes in the exhibit area a staff person can be with another group outside. Content of guided programs bridge with that of the "fact safaris" and curriculum objectives.

These tools have been well worth the time it took to develop them, especially with just one or two interpreters available on any given day. When teachers have to be on their own they appreciate help focusing their children. Some students have written in thank you letters indicating their favorite part of the field trip was the self-guided indoor activity. Hmmm...C.Carpenter:R08F11D59A

Getting to Know Trees
The Cradle of Forestry in America has recently created and field tested a new program for 5th-grade students and their teachers, "Getting to Know Trees." The program was created to assist teachers in meeting several of North Carolina curriculum Science Objectives. Focusing on the characteristics of trees, this combination indoor/outdoor program teaches students about patterns of growth, tree parts, and the skill of using a dichotomous key to identify trees. The indoor session includes a "tree cookie" investigation as well as a "scavenger hunt" in the exhibit hall. The scavenger hunt is a fact finding adventure, during which the 5th-graders search for information about trees and tree growth among the various exhibits at the Forest Discovery Center.

Celebrating Wildflowers And Other Native Plants, Shrubs And Trees
The Southeast Alaska Visitor Center began offering nature walks twice daily during the summer season in 1997. The ten minute walks were led by seasonal staff on the grounds around the visitor center. The presentation focused nonnative plants of Southeast Alaska and each participant was given a brochure published in 1997 titled "Wildflowers of the National Forests in Alaska". The visitor center is landscaped with native plants on all four sides and in two courtyards so Wildflowers bloom at different times on different sides of the building. Approximately 500 visitors participated in this program. This program was included with the user fee implemented at the center under the Fee Demonstration project in 1997.

Native Artists in Residence Program-new in 1997
A native artists in residence program was operated by Kinaa Kinaa Ltd. under sponsored volunteer agreement with the USDA Forest Service at the Southeast Alaska Visitor Center during the summer season 1997. Local Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian artists volunteered to provide visitor's with an insight on authentic Alaskan Native Arts. Totem carving, cedar bark weaving, regalia making, ravenstail weaving and engraving were demonstrated. Visitors to the center enjoyed talking with the artists about their work as well as observing them work on pieces of art. Coordinator Sue Shotridge and the seasonal interpretive staff at the center provided onsite interpretation of Alaska Native art and artists. A separate agreement between Kinaa Kinaa Ltd. and the Alaska Natural History Association allowed the artists to take commissions and sell art items in the bookstore on consignment. This program was provided as part of the extended services at the center under the Fee Demonstration Project.

Bats Arrive at The Southeast Alaska Visitor Center
Through a Natural Resource Conservation Education Grant, the Southeast Alaska Visitor Center added a new teacher box to those already available for local teachers and leaders. The box contains information and curricula on Bats and Caves. Bat puppets, stamps, slides shows, videos, posters and books fill the box. Most materials were acquired from Bat Conservation International, the National Speleological Society and Acorn Naturalists. Local information on Caves of Southeast Alaska is provided by the University of Alaska Southeast-Ketchikan Campus. Videos, stories and activities from the box were used on October 31 to provide an evening program on BATS for children in Ketchikan. For more info on our teacher kits and boxes visit us on the internet at http://www.col-ed.org/smcnws. For more info on any of these programs contact Sandy Skrien, Southeast Alaska Visitor Center (907)-228-6220, write to us at 50 Main Street, Ketchikan, AK 99901, or visit us on the internet at www.ktn.net/usfs/ketchikan OR www.nps.gov/aplic/center.

Central Oregon Environmental Educators Group
The Central Oregon Environmental Educators are a group of employees of the Prineville District Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Ochoco National Forest. Through the year this group has met with the High Desert Learning Center Director Jim Tyler. "We are pulling together as one, to consider how to strengthen natural resource education in the communities we jointly serve, define what are EE goals are and look at ways to integrate EE activities in the future in Central Oregon," stated Tyler