CESYES

Conservation Education

The term "conservation education" was first used during the Dust Bowl when it was paramount that citizens learn to conserve important soil and water resources before they disappeared. Tree planting, wildlife habitat improvement, and new agricultural practices helped hold soil and restore ecosystems. The term is used today to refer to the knowledge and skills needed to wisely protect and use natural resources. 4-H camp programs and National Contests practice conservation education, and so do most 4-H Project Books on forestry, wildlife, soil, and natural resource topics. Many state and federal agencies provide field trips to support conservation education goals, as well as local nature centers. Some field trips are conducted with video cameras and satellite connections to allow students in distant locations to learn about the landscape. (curriculum materials) Field based instruction programs assist youth in exploring local surroundings, collecting data, and comparing results with other locations. A variety of programs using field based instruction are available: water quality monitoring through the Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN); observations with birds (Feeder Watch, Pigeon Watch, Nestbox Survey, etc.) through the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; and atmospheric, soil, and vegetation surveys with Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE).