Nature Net News
November
2005
Environmental Heroes
"In all things of nature there is
something of the marvelous."
Aristotle
Dear Reader, When I think of heroes of environmentalism, I'm pleased I need not go further than my own community to discover a rich and influential past - and present - of men and women who have led the way not just for Wisconsin, but for the nation. Wisconsin celebrates daily the ideals our environmental heroes have taught us: a strong land ethic, a desire to preserve and protect natural beauty, and a love of simply enjoying the outdoors. Encourage your family to delve into our rich environmental heritage by visiting sites suggested in "What to Do This Month" and remember to bring along your inquiring minds (see "Tricks of the Trail") and your journal created from this month's "Nature Craft". Kathe & Betsy |
Many of your local schools, streets, parks and buildings are named after famous Wisconsin environmentalists? Can you think of somewhere you know with the name Leopold, Lapham, Van Hise, Schmeeckle, Knowles, O'Keeffe or Muir?
What to
Do This Month:
Hike the trails at a Nature Net site named after a famous
naturalist, like Aldo Leopold Foundation, Aldo Leopold Nature Center,
MacKenzie Center or Upham Woods.
Visit National Historic Landmarks like Van Hise Rock or the Farm Home of John Muir
Check out family events at area Nature Net sites!
Tricks of the Trail for
Parents:
Connecting to Historic Figures
Before
hitting the trails or exhibits at your favorite environmental/historic site, prepare your
young explorer by visiting associated websites and checking out related
books (ask your librarian for help - or see our "Suggested
Reading" list). "Stories and documents that tell us about people's feelings and reactions to events in their lives allow us to recognize the human feelings we share with people across space and
time," says the US Department of Education. Help your child see
the world through the eyes of someone like Georgia O'Keeffe or Charles Van Hise
using historic diaries, journals and speeches. Now, using the research
you've completed, create a list of scavenger hunt items you expect to
encounter on your field excursion. Check off the items on your list
while exploring and remember to ask questions of staff members or guides.
Instant Outdoor Expert:
Leopold's Legacy
(Excerpt from
an Aldo Leopold Foundation
webpage (.pdf))
Considered
by many as the father of wildlife management and the United States’
wilderness system, Aldo Leopold was a conservationist, forester,
philosopher, educator, writer, and outdoor enthusiast.
Aldo Leopold developed an
interest in the natural world at an early age, spending hours observing,
journaling, and sketching his surroundings. Graduating from the Yale
Forest School in 1909, he eagerly pursued a career with the newly
established U.S. Forest Service in Arizona and New Mexico. In 1922, he was
instrumental in developing the proposal to manage the Gila National Forest
as a wilderness area, which became the first such official designation in
1924.
In Madison, Wisconsin Leopold continued his
investigations into ecology and the philosophy of conservation. In 1933
he published the first textbook in the field of wildlife management and accepted a new chair in game management – a first for
the University of Wisconsin and the nation.
In 1935, he and his family initiated their own ecological restoration
experiment on a worn out farm along the Wisconsin River outside of Baraboo,
Wisconsin.
A prolific writer, Leopold conceived of a book geared for general
audiences examining humanity’s relationship to the natural world.
Unfortunately, one week after receiving word that his manuscript
would be published, Leopold experienced a heart attack and died on April
21, 1948 while fighting a neighbor’s grass fire. After his death Leopold’s collection of essays A Sand County
Almanac was published. With over two million copies sold, it is one of
the most respected books about the environment ever published, and Leopold
has come to be regarded as the most influential conservation
thinker of the twentieth century. Leopold’s legacy continues to inform
and inspire us to see the natural world "as a community to which
we belong.”
Find out about other Wisconsin Environmental Heroes at the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame.
Eco-Exercise:
Observation Station
To help increase visual awareness and get kids moving, start with about
10 common natural items secretly gathered from the immediate (outdoor)
area (like rocks, seeds, pine cones, acorns, etc.) Place the items
on a bandana or piece of cloth and cover them with another bandana.
With the children assembled, remove the top bandana for 25 seconds.
Now, give everyone five minutes to spread out, seeking and collecting
identical items. After the search time is over, look at and discuss each
item. Repeat as desired.
Adapted from Sharing Nature with Children by Joseph Cornell.
Featured Nature Net Site
Nature Craft
Aldo
Leopold Foundation
In 1982, Leopold’s children, Starker, Luna, Nina, Carl, and
Estella, all respected conservationists themselves, established the Aldo Leopold Foundation in response to the growing interest in their father’s legacy. For more than twenty
years the Aldo Leopold Foundation has promoted the care of natural resources and fostered an ethical relationship between people and land.
As the primary advocate and interpreter of the Leopold legacy, the Foundation manages the original Leopold farm and now-famous Shack, serves as the executor of Leopold’s literary estate, and acts as a clearinghouse for information regarding Aldo Leopold, his work, and his ideas.
The Shack, a re-built chicken coop along the Wisconsin River where the Leopold family stayed during weekend retreats, continues to serve as the heart of the Foundation’s programs. Each year, thousands of visitors are inspired through tours, seminars, and workshops in the same landscape that deeply moved Leopold.
Educational opportunities are available year-round to groups interested in visiting the original Leopold farm and Shack. Groups of 10 or more may request a tour by contacting Jennifer Kobylecky at 608.355.0279.
Nature
Journaling Many budding naturalists, including young Aldo Leopold and James Audubon, begin their inquiry into nature by keeping a journal. Honing a keen sense of awareness through observation and journaling encourages and nurtures an appreciation of the natural world.
Keeping a nature journal does not require a fancy bound book - though if that inspires you and your young naturalist, they can be found at gift shops, paper outlets or greeting card stores. Whether filling in a purchased notebook or making your own booklet, here are some tips for creating a meaningful nature journal:
Each entry should include the date, time and weather (hint: attach a zipper-pull thermometer to your child's jacket to keep knowledge of current conditions at hand).
Consider establishing a "Life List" of birds, plants or animals in your journal. Each time you spot a species for the first time, add the name (plus, the date and location) to this special list. How long can you keep your list going? And, how many different species can you list? Fill the rest of your pages with stories, thoughts and sketches of things you see, hear or smell while outdoors. If you prefer to work from a template, download (.pdf) and print these nature journal pages created by Nature Net, use heavy paper for a cover and hit the trails!
Suggested Reading:"The Flower Hunter : William Bartram, America's First Naturalist" by Deborah Kogan Ray (ages 4-8)
"My Name Is Georgia: A Portrait" by Jeanette Winter (ages 4-8)
"The Boy Who Drew Birds : A Story of John James Audubon" by Jacqueline Davies (ages 9-12)
"Of Things Natural, Wild, and Free: A Story About Aldo Leopold" by Marybeth Lorbiecki (ages 9-12)
"Girls Who Looked Under Rocks: The Lives of Six Pioneering Naturalists" by Jeannine Atkins (ages 9-12)
