Educational Resources: Learning About Public Lands
Searching for a fun way to teach your volunteers about the environment? Curious about the natural world? Check out our educational resources.
Approximately one-third of America's lands - about 600 million acres - are public and belong to the nation's citizens!
To familiarize yourself with the lands and ecosystems that make up our public lands, visit Geography Action!, created by National Geographic. Geography Action provides lesson plans by grade and aligned with U.S. National Geography Standards; Maps; and learning tools and activites.
Public Lands and Water (2009)
Access our 2009 Water and Public Lands Library
Learn more about federal and state water initiatives and opportunities to protect our nation's waters.
Land and water are interconnected through a vast network of streams, rivers, lakes and other wetlands that traverse America’s public and private lands. Volunteers can protect our nation's water bodies by monitoring water quality in rivers and lakes, restoring wetlands, preventing stormwater run-off and erosion, cleaning up trash from shorelines and learning techniques to conserve water at home.
Wildlife
Our public lands are filled with all types of wildlife ranging from darting monarch butterflies to roaming buffalo. View our NEW wildlife section to learn more about the creatures found in America's backyard.
Get to Know: For over 10 years, internationally renowned wildlife artist Robert Bateman has spearheaded a Canadian program that encourages youth to "get to know their wild neighbors." Learn more and enter the Get to Know art contest.
Tree Planting (2008)
In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps and in recognition of all the benefits that trees provide, National Public Lands Day spearheaded a 1 million tree-planting initiative in 2008.
Volunteers across the country eclipsed that goal by planting 1.6 million trees between Arbor Day on April 25, 2008 and National Public Lands Day on September 29, 2008.
Planting trees during National Public Lands Day presented a unique opportunity to educate children and adults about forest ecosystems, local tree species, how trees benefit people and wildlife, and how to plant them correctly.
- Learn about the benefits of trees.
- Bring nature inside: reading lists for all ages.
Curriculum resources for teachers:
- Project Learning Tree® (PLT) -- Activities created for NPLD
- Plant trees for your carbon garden.
Invasive Species (2007)
Invasive species present one of the greatest threats to the health and biodiversity of public lands. These unwelcome plants, insects and other organisms are disrupting the ecology of natural ecosystems, displacing native plant and animal species, and degrading our nation's unique and diverse biological resources.
- Learn about common invasive plants by reading our Invasive Species Tips
- Find great resources using our Invasive Species Information Portal
Additional Resources
- Discover the Forest: Where The Other You Lives: The USDA Forest Service launched an interative website that aims to re-connect youth aged 8-12 and their parents with nature. Features include: a local park/forest finder, projects to do in nature and the role of nature in the lives of individuals.
- Leave No Trace: Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics (LNT) promotes responsible outdoor recreation around the country through use of educational materials and Master Trainers. Learn more about Leave No Trace.
- Project Learning Tree (PLT): Another educational partner is Project Learning Tree (PLT), a program of the American Forest Foundation. PLT is a multi-disciplinary program covering Pre-K-12 grades that focuses on forests, wildlife, water, community planning, waste management and energy. We have contacted state PLT coordinators to encourage working with NPLD sites. Programs can be adapted to various audiences, including Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, 4-H and other community groups.
- Children and Nature Initiative: Playing in nature can positively impact children’s health and well-being. The Children and Nature Initiative wants to improve children’s health by educating healthcare professionals on encouraging children outdoor time in a natural environment for health benefits.
Enter the Get to Know Art Contest, a program initiated by Canadian wildlife artist Robert Bateman.
Activities for NPLD 2009: Holding onto the GREEN Zone Guide
With NPLD 2009 focusing on our nation's water resources, we've gathered some great activities for site managers, teachers, and scout leaders that will engage students ages 10-14. Visit the Green Zone page and download the activity pages for engaging activities on National Public Lands Day or any day!