Great Web Sites for Parents and Kids

Backyard Wildlife Habitat

http://www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat/
Go out in your backyard and look around! Watch the butterflies and hummingbirds dance in search of nectar. Listen to the trill of songbirds. Hear the plop of a frog jumping into a pond. This isn't your yard, you say? It could be. It's not hard, and it doesn't matter where you live or how much space you have.

Bernheim Research Forest

http://www.bernheim.org/
Within Bernheim's 14,000 acres you will find a nationally-recognized arboretum, beautiful gardens, tranquil lakes, a nature center, large expanses of scenic natural area, 30 miles of hiking trails and a 12,000-acre research forest. Enjoy a leisurely stroll, hike, bike, bring the family to the Visitors Center or just come to enjoy the ever-changing display of natural splendor. Whether your interest is in scenery, natural sciences, horticulture, local history or just quiet contemplation in the outdoors, Bernheim has something for you.

Cedar Ridge Camp

http://www.cedarridgecamp.com
Cedar Ridge Camp offers supplemental, experiential learning to children in grades 1-12, from public, parochial, and home schools, during the school year in the areas of High Ropes Course, Teams Course (Low Ropes Course), team dynamics, living history, writing and literature, and science and nature.

Earth Day Network

http://www.earthday.org/
Earth Day Network is an alliance of 5,000 groups in 184 countries working to promote a healthy environment and a peaceful, just, sustainable world.

Each year, Earth Day inspires a groundswell of grassroots action in communities around the world. People from Peru to India, and from Ireland to the USA take part in Earth Day events and actions which educate, spread awareness and push for tangible change.

Earthguide

http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/
CalSpace at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD
Earthguide is an educational resource in Earth and Environmental science for both students and teachers. We are part of the California Space Institute at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and our web site is created by a dynamic team of undergraduate students at the University of California San Diego.

Floyds Fork Web Site Project

http://www.floydsfork.org/
Created by Eastern High School, The Floyds Fork Web Site Project incorporates commitments from the Department of Planning and Environmental Management’s Division of Planning and Development Services, and the Office of Information Services of Jefferson County; the Louisville/Jefferson County Department of Parks, the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD), Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), the Kentucky Institute for Environment & Sustainable Development, and the Louisville / Jefferson County Information Consortium (LOJIC). Each of these organizations has a commitment to and a role in the management of the Floyds Fork resource and sees the proposed project as a means toward focusing attention on immediate policy issues.

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont

http://www.gsmit.org/
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is a private non-profit residential environmental education center located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Our mission is to provide in-depth experiences though educational programs designed to nurture appreciation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, celebrate diversity, and foster stewardship. We accomplish our mission through residential programs for school groups, teachers, adults and families, through summer camps for youth, and through a scientific research program involving students from the local communities and beyond.

Harrison-Crawford/Wyandotte State Forest

http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/index.html?http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/stateforests/property.htm&2
Harrison-Crawford/Wyandotte Complex lies in the central and extreme southern part of the state, bordering the Ohio River. The forest contains about 26,000 acres including the Wyandotte Caves State Recreation Area. The area offers Class A campsites, as well as the Stagestop Campground, which offers Class C and youth rally camping. A 100-bed group camp at Wyandotte Woods. Self-contained structures consisting of a recreation hall, shower house, dining hall and shelter. The Hickory Hollow Nature Center features a variety of displays and exhibits. Programs are given year-round and a full time naturalist is on staff. Nearby is Wyandotte Caves State Recreation Area, which offers guided tours of both Big and Little Wyandotte Caves.

Jefferson Memorial Forest

http://www.memorialforest.com/
We offer year-round programs at the Forest, which include: Woods Walking; Ponds, Streams, and Waters; Fishing Fun-damentals; Tornado Alley; Earth Keepers; Bring a Book to Life; Night Magic; Preschool Nature Study; Team Building; Alpine Climbing Tower; and many more!

Journey North

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/
Journey North tracks wildlife migration during the different seasons of the year. The journeys of a dozen migratory species are tracked each spring. Students share their own field observations with classrooms across the Hemisphere. In addition, students are linked with scientists who provide their expertise directly to the classroom. Several migrations are tracked by satellite telemetry, providing live coverage of individual animals as they migrate. As the spring season sweeps across the Hemisphere, students note changes in daylight, temperatures, & all living things as the food chain comes back to life

Over 7,500 schools, representing more than 370,000 students, participated in the 2002 Journey North Program. These students are from all 50 U.S. States and 7 Canadian Provinces

Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission

http://www.kynaturepreserves.org/
The Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission (KSNPC) is a state agency created in 1976 and directed by five citizens appointed by the governor. KSNPC's mission is to protect Kentucky's natural heritage by (1) identifying, acquiring, and managing natural areas that represent the best known occurrences of rare native species, natural communities, and significant natural features in a statewide nature preserve system; (2) working with others to protect biological diversity; and (3) educating Kentuckians as to the value and purpose of nature preserves and biodiversity conservation.

Kentucky State Parks

http://www.state.ky.us/agencies/parks/
R.E.A.C.H. (Recreation, Environment and Cultural History) Education Camps provide students an unique learning opportunity to participate in nature, history and outdoor recreation activities. Students experience the out-of-doors and Kentucky history where it took place. They cultivate an awareness of their natural and cultural surroundings that will remain with them for life.

Activities such as aquatics, geology, state history, plant identification and outdoor recreations skills, supply educators with valuable teaching components and make learning fun for students! These activities can give students experiences that relate to every course of study including natural science, math, history, language arts and social skills

Kids Gardening

http://www.kidsgardening.com/
Digging into Soils
We dig in it, build with it, depend on it for nutrients and water that plants and people need to survive. Life on Earth depends on the nutrient cycling that takes place in the soil as microorganisms and larger animals recycle organic materials. It can take hundreds of years to create an inch of this precious resource, yet we often take it for granted—or even worse—treat it like dirt!

In this month's Teachers' Resource Room, you'll find classroom stories, how-to advice, project ideas, and resources to help you cultivate soil-savvy students.

Mammoth Cave Learning Place

http://www.nps.gov/maca/learnhome/learnhome.htm
Mammoth Cave National Park is a great place to come and learn about caves, forests, groundwater, wildlife, and history. All it takes to have a successful educational trip is a little planning... Visit the web start to start your planning.

Nature Mapping Program

http://www.fish.washington.edu/naturemapping
NatureMapping trains people just like you how to monitor and report the wildlife they observe and the habitats they observe them in. This can include wildlife at a backyard feeder, on a woodland or prairie hike, in a school yard, or at your place of employment ... anywhere you observe wildlife. The data you collect is reported to us via this Web site so that it can be used and viewed by participants or anyone else that has an interest in wildlife and habitats.

NatureMapping allows humans to learn more about fellow living beings with whom we share this earth. It helps us find out "who's out there" and where they live. NatureMapping is a perfect way to use your appreciation of nature and contribute much needed information about common wildlife species.

Otter Creek Park

http://www.louisvilleky.gov/MetroParks/parks/ottercreek/
Otter Creek Park is one of the treasures of the Louisville and Jefferson County Metro Parks system. Otter Creek's 2,600 acres offer an abundance of outdoor experiences. The park is located approximately 25 miles southwest of downtown Louisville along the Ohio River in Meade County, Kentucky. It is accessible from Dixie Highway, just 14 miles south of the Gene Snyder Freeway.

Recycle City

http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/
An activity site with lots to do here—people and places to visit and plenty of ways to explore how the city's residents recycle, reduce, and reuse waste.

United States Geologic Survey

http://water.usgs.gov/education.html
This sites describes the educational resources of the United States Geologic Survey.

Virtual Recycling

http://www.virtualrecycling.com/
Virtual Recycling provides tons of information about recycling. Choose a Section below and let your mouse do the walking ... you're on your way to becoming a super Virtual-Recycler!