published by the American Museum of Natural History, 77th Street and Central This describes the famous Bear Mountain Trailside Park West, New York City. A small charge is made for the booklets. Sponsoring Hikes For Children Recently, a large city newspaper offered guided field trips and hikes one day a week to anyone interested. Its readers responded in so great a number that additional members of the staff were asked to act as guides. Such incidents are occurring more frequently. They indicate an increasing interest on the part of the average citizen to know the names of trees, birds, flowers and plants, and the average school child with a little encouragement is an ardent nature enthusiast. Plan and arrange a day or half-day field trip or bird hike for a group of boys and girls, possibly a junior conservation club, camp fire girls, boy scouts and girl scouts, or some similar group. Somewhere near the community, there may be a large wooded area, a state park, game refuge, or other place of scenic interest. If there happens to be a fish hatchery near, arrange with the superintendent to visit the hatchery. He will explain how the eggs are hatched, how the young fish are cared for and fed and other hatchery operations. There is much to be seen in the state parks and game refuges. Oftentimes, we do not realize the possibilities of parks, forests, or nature trails located in or near our own communities as a source of educational value and nature study. The Conservation Department will help you to locate those conservation units or points of interest in your area if you are not acquainted with them. A Nature Observation Contest To acquire the ability of observing kinds of trees, landscape, birds, flowers and animals is a good objective for every boy and girl. To help them in this respect, sponsor a contest whereby each boy and girl will, over a certain period of time, keep a record of every bird and animal which they see during that period. A printed form or blank might be worked out on which the name of the bird, plant or animal will be written, the date seen, description, and any peculiar characteristics, where seen, and something about the observation. The most interesting list of observations would be chosen for the first prize. Nature Exhibits in Schools Many schools in Michigan are arranging nature displays as an effective method of teaching nature study. Arrange with the school superintendent, nature study, and biology teachers for a nature museum in some well lighted part of the school. The days when a museum contained nothing but dried and dead material are over and the keynote of a worthwhile nature museum would be a constantly changing picture; new and fresh material replacing old. A list of possible exhibit items is given below. The teachers and students will have many additional suggestions. Many of these given, have been displayed in various schools and found very effective. 1. Mounted birds. These may be the products of the taxidermy class or club, or contributed by interested club members or local people. 2. Acquaria containing water plants, fish, snails, pollywogs, small turtles, etc. 3. 4. Displays of various plants which provide food for birds. A collection of various moths (in wire cages) in various stages of development. They will continue their activities if given food (leaves) and children love to watch them. 5. Collection of various kinds of rocks with labels and any interesting note about their use and commercial products. 6. A collection of seeds with proper labels from a variety of trees. 7. A collection of branches, and barks from trees with labels. To this add cross sections of the wood if obtainable. 8. A display of wildflowers, preferably potted and growing, labeled with name, where found and whether common or rare, how to pick them. A formula is available for preserving specimens. 9. A miniature model of a beaver dam and lodge, showing a cross section of the lodge. 12. (Work now being carried on in Mich igan to improve creeks and streams for fish life.) A miniature model showing effect of fire upon a forested area. (One school displayed model with about one-half green and the other part showing blackened stumps and burned-over ground, the effect being produced by using pieces of matches for the trees.) 13. A model of properly built camp fire and one improperly built. Miscellany Other phases of conservation work may present themselves to women's organizations other than those mentioned. There is such a thing as woods etiquette, but too few people are aware of the fact, as evidenced by the filthy condition in which they leave their camp or picnic sites. There are too many men killed in hunting accidents from carelessness. There is too little thought given to the polluting of streams today, and to the detrimental effects resulting therefrom. Various methods than those given can be used in carrying out a certain project. Perhaps one method very successful in one community would not have a good effect in another. Stickers could be used for several different projects, i. e., fire prevention, reducing hunting accidents or agitation against the destruction of flowering dogwood, Michigan holly or bittersweet. Signs or posters in city buses have proved very effective in many localities for educational work. In one state, book covers stressing the need for care with fire in the forests were distributed to schools, thus serving a two-fold purpose. A camera club or photographic contest has brought excellent results. Subjects such as beautiful woodland scenes, wild flower pictures, forest, bird or wild animal snapshots, stimulate an appreciation and interest in seeing nature in its natural setting. |