Educators
Many educational resources are available for parents and teachers to help children learn more about their natural world. You will find links to some of these resources on these pages. Additional materials will be added to this site as they become available.
Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl Poster Contest
Since 1944, Smokey Bear has been a national icon for Wildfire Education, joining him in 1977, Woodsy Owl reminds us to become environmentally aware. Together they encourage us to take personal responsibility for the care of the lands and wildlife surrounding us.
Each year all 1st through 5th grade students are invited to demonstrate, through original drawings of Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl, their understanding of fire prevention and basic environmental conservation principles. The Grand Prize National Poster Contest Winner wins a free trip to Washington DC, including round trip airfare and accommodations for four, to attend the Recognition Ceremony. A $50 check, sponsored by the National Garden Clubs, Inc., is awarded to each of the first-place national winners.
Smokey Bear says, “Only you can prevent wildfires!” Smokey Bear is recognized nationally and internationally as the symbol for wildfire prevention. The original Smokey Bear appeared in 1944. Smokey’s message “Only you can prevent wildfires!” encourages personal responsibility for wildfire prevention. Smokey Bear teaches children and adults to be careful with campfires, barbecues, burning yard waste, and matches.
Woodsy Owl says, “Lend a hand—care for the land!” Woodsy Owl is America’s icon for the conservation of the environment. Since 1971, Woodsy has helped parents and teachers inspire children to observe, explore, and care for the environment. He challenges children to “Lend a hand, care for the land!” and to take an active role in caring for the land through recycling, reusing, and reducing waste; gardening, planting and caring for trees; using resources wisely; and not littering.
Conservation Education
Through Conservation Education, the Forest Service provides a variety of educational resources and programs for individuals of all ages to learn about the environment and our nation’s forests and grasslands. Through these hands-on, interactive learning opportunities, students, educators, and parents can explore how to become a responsible steward of our natural resources. There are also a variety of resources for teachers and parents to engage youth in environmental education and for exploring careers in conservation.
The Natural Inquirer Journals, produced in collaboration with FIND Outdoors, provide FREE science education resources – both in print and online – for K-12 audiences and educators. These resources are based upon studies from USDA Forest Service scientists.
In addition, Natural Inquirer Scientist and Engineer Cards highlight over 240 Forest Service careers in science and engineering, inspiring career exploration in youth.
Did you know that every 4th grader and their family can access most federal public lands for free? Through Every Kid Outdoors, 4th graders throughout the U.S. can receive a free pass to over 2,000 federal lands and waters to discover wildlife, resources, and history. The program creates connections to public lands and inspires future stewards of our national forests and other public lands.
eeINSPIRE: Forest Service Conservation Education partners with the North American Association for Environmental Education to deliver a monthly professional development series for environmental educators who want to build skills and stay current on the latest trends and issues in the field of environmental education. Past webinars have explored a variety of topics, including climate change education and environmental justice.
Forest Literacy Framework: Project Learning Tree’s Forest Literacy Framework, developed in collaboration with the Forest Service, explores forests and sustainability for K- 12 students and their teachers. This comprehensive guide presents a conceptual structure to increase people’s understanding of forests and how to take action to conserve our nation’s forests.
Health and Nature: Through a partnership with the National Environmental Education Foundation, Forest Service is shining a light on the health benefits of nature and the role of nature in psychological and physical well-being.
Greening STEM Grants: In partnership with the National Environmental Education Foundation, the Greening STEM Grants program provides grants to programs working with middle and high school students that provide meaningful STEM experiences while advancing the Forest Service mission.
Reconnect your family with nature. The forest and the outdoors are a place for adventure, learning, fun, and discovery. Find places near you to get outside along with activities for your nature adventure at DiscoverTheForest.org
Gooseberry 3rd Grade Outdoor Education Program
Each September following the Labor Day holiday, nearly 500 third graders from area schools converge at Gooseberry for the annual environmental education program. These children have been waiting, some for almost as many as their eight years, for the time they would be third graders and able to "go to Gooseberry".
For 45 years, rangers have been bringing kids to the Fishlake National Forest for the Gooseberry Outdoor Education Program. Students from Sevier and Piute school districts spend a day learning about their environment, using maps, preventing forest fires, even how to ride ATVs safely.
The students spend the night, of course, camping in the great outdoors. And like generations of kids before them, they'll likely hear the campfire stories of Annie Bangs, the woman who, according to legend, was raised by wolves and still lurks in the woods.