Got Nature? Blog

Among the steel and concrete that make up the urban environment, trees provide welcome relief from heat and potentially unfavorable sights and smells. Trees provide value from ecosystem services, which can refer to any of the benefits humans obtain from nature. Trees in the built environment provide many benefits, such as storing carbon, reducing air temperature and air conditioning costs, filtering air and water pollutants, intercepting rainwater to reduce flooding, and increasing aesthetic value.

The Preparing Indiana’s Urban Forest for Climate Change is an overview of choosing species of trees that will thrive in urban settings has always required careful consideration, but climate change is making that task even more important. In this paper, Purdue and other researchers provide tools to help urban foresters, arborists and planners adapt so that the ecosystem services that trees provide can be maintained.Preparing Indiana's Urban Forest for Climate Change pub cover

To receive the free download for the Preparing Indiana’s Urban Forest for Climate Change please visit The Education Store.

Resources:
Urban Forestry, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Sustainable Communities, Purdue Extension Program
How to Find an Arborist Near You!, Purdue Extension – FNR Got Nature? Blog
Storms Can Cause Damage and Tree Cleanup, What You Need to Know, Purdue Extension – FNR Got Nature? Blog
Purdue Landscape Report, Purdue Science-Based Midwest Landscaping
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Investing in Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Woodland Wildlife Management, The Education Store
ID That Tree, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel

Julie McAulay, Undergraduate Research Assistant in Environmental and Ecological Engineering
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Lenny Farlee, Sustaining Hardwood Extension Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Brady Hardiman, Associate Professor for Environmental and Ecological Engineering
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Posted on July 12th, 2022 in Forestry, Nature of Teaching, Wildlife, Woodlands | No Comments »

Teachers enjoyed gathering creative resources, new student activities and interacting with professionals as they learned how to approach teaching natural resources while using science, technology, engineering and math.  Read more to learn how you can apply for a spot for the 2023 NRTI program.

The Indiana Natural Resources Teacher Institute (NRTI) is a multi-day conservation education workshop and tour of forest management, forest industry and forestry research in Indiana.  The purpose of the institute is to provide an introduction to the impact sustainable forestry has on our state’s environment, economy, and quality of life, and to equip teachers to apply that knowledge in the classroom.Goup of teachers in forest

The 5-day workshop advances effective teaching and learning about Indiana’s forest resources and their management.  Participants will learn how to approach the teaching of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) concepts and principles from a natural resource perspective through exposure to professionals, researchers, and industry leaders and hands-on experiences in the field. Participants develop a STEM-based curriculum project to be implemented with their students, bringing natural resource science and management topics and activities into the classroom.

Several partners and many sponsors and supporters facilitate this program. The IN DNR Division of Forestry Project Learning Tree Coordinator, Donna Rogler, is the originator and lead on this project, and the Division provides housing for the participants at the Morgan Monroe State Forest Training Center. Lenny Farlee, Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Forester, and Mary Cutler, Tippecanoe County Parks and Recreation Naturalist, serve as Instructors/facilitators with Donna for the week of activities and tours. Presenters from several agencies, organizations, and companies assist with field tours and presentations, including a tour and activities on the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment site at Morgan Monroe State Forest. The connection with this long-term, large-scale research project provides a unique STEM application teachers can take back to their classrooms.

Teachers doing wood veneerThe NRTI program can accommodate up to 18 teachers, with emphasis on primary educators, but welcoming to educators from all ages and backgrounds. Many past participants have called this week the best professional development training they have attended. If you are an educator or know one who would be interested in attending future trainings, contact the Indiana Division of Forestry or keep an eye on the Purdue FNR Extension Calendar to apply for the next session in the summer of 2023.

Resources:
Project Learning Tree
Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry
The Nature of Teaching, Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
Indiana Forestry Educational Foundation, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
Forest/Timber, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel
Natural Resources Teacher Institute Takes Forestry to the Classroom, Purdue FNR News
Purdue Extension

Donna Rogler, Coordinator
Indiana Project Learning Tree

Lenny Farlee, Sustaining Hardwood Extension Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Posted on March 1st, 2022 in Forestry, Nature of Teaching, Wildlife, Woodlands | No Comments »

Forestry & Natural Resources Assists with Natural Resources Teacher Institute

Group Gathered In Forest

The Indiana Natural Resources Teacher Institute is a multi-day professional development workshop that will bring 18 teachers from across the state to Morgan-Monroe State Forest to see firsthand how forestry works in Indiana. Sessions include tours of public and private forest lands, forest industry facilities, and forestry research in Indiana.

The goal of the institute is to provide Indiana teachers with knowledge, skills and tools to effectively teach their students about forest ecology and forest management practices. The forest environment becomes the basis for integrating the learning of many subject areas, including environmental science, biology, natural resources, and social science. STEM concepts and principles will be incorporated throughout the sessions. The program empowers teachers to foster conceptual learning, critical thinking and decision-making skills in their classrooms.

BENEFITS:
The Natural Resources Teacher Institute emphasizes the importance of conservation of natural resources with special attention given to Indiana’s forests and forest products. The project-based approach integrates hands-on study of the natural and cultural resources of the local community, addresses concepts in ecology, sense of place, civics, economics and forest land management and stewardship. Participants will develop a curriculum project about forests or forestry for their classrooms. Participants will earn 30+ Professional Growth Points and receive a stipend upon documentation of implementing curriculum project. We link the concepts to the Indiana Learning Standards and provide training in Project Learning Tree materials.

WHEN AND WHERE:
There are two opportunities for teachers to participate in this course during the summer of 2022. The first offering will be June 20-24, while the second will be July 18-22. The Institute will begin on Monday of the week at 1:00 pm and conclude on Friday at noon. The base of operations will be the Forestry Training Center at Morgan-Monroe State Forest near Martinsville. Teachers will stay in the Training Center, sharing one of the 10 sleeping rooms. Meals will be provided.

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Interested educators must complete an application and submit it by the deadline of March 15, 2022. Successful applicants will be notified by April 1, 2022.
  • The Institute is limited to 18 participants.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Must be available to participate in all days of the Institute. Individual participation only – spouses and/or children, etc, are not permitted.
  • Must be able to actively participate in all activities, which will include walking, hiking, summer temperatures, insects, etc. Reasonable accommodations will be made for individuals with disabilities who may need assistance.
  • Must have the ability to implement a curriculum project in their educational setting.

COST:
There is no cost for participants. Those accepted will be required to pay a $50.00 deposit which will be refunded at the end of the program.
Participants will receive a stipend when documentation is provided that they have implemented their curriculum project with their students.

“One of the strengths of this program is having the time and locations to expose and involve the teachers in multiple aspects of forest management, benefits, and research,” said Lenny Farlee, Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources Extension forester and sustaining hardwood extension specialist. “This exposure provides teachers new perspectives on the importance and complexity of forests, which they can pass along to their students. I think a better understanding of forests can lead to better decisions related to their use and management in the future.”

Lead instructors for the NRTI include: Lenny Farlee, Purdue’s Sustaining Hardwood Extension Specialist; Donna Rogler, Forestry Education Specialist and Project Learning Tree Coordinator for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry; and Mary Cutler, Tippecanoe County Parks and Recreation naturalist.

For flyer with course description: 2022 Indiana Natural Resources Teacher Institute
For application view: 2022 NRTI Application

Resources:
Project Learning Tree
Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry
The Nature of Teaching, Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
Indiana Forestry Educational Foundation, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
Forest/Timber, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel
Purdue Extension
Natural Resources Teacher Institute Takes Forestry to the Classroom, Purdue FNR News

Lenny Farlee, Sustaining Hardwood Extension Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Posted on June 2nd, 2021 in Nature of Teaching, Publication | No Comments »

This unit, part of the Nature of Teaching series, explores the effects of barriers and human assistance on wildlife gene flow. Students will learn about the effects of human-induced factors onNature of Teaching Curriculum: How Humans Impact Gene Flow and Genetic Diversity, FNR-619-W wildlife movement and gene flow, and the effectiveness of human interventions that promote gene flow among wildlife.  You will find in the complete curriculum: teachers’ notes, vocabulary words, objectives and required materials for activities including gene flow simulation and estimating genetic variations in lady beetles.

The Nature of Teaching includes formal standards-based curricula and informal activity-based curricula all centered around getting youth outside. The three program areas of the formal curricula include: Wildlife, Health and Wellness, and Food Waste. Each program area provides standards-based lesson plans free as a downloadable PDF. Lesson plans are classroom ready for grades K-12.

Resources:
Nature of Teaching website and Nature of Teaching Youtube Channel
Ask An Expert: Anurans (Frogs and Toads) video, Got Nature?, Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources
The Nature of Teaching, Unit 3: Reptiles, Amphibians, and the Scientific Method, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
The Nature of Teaching: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Health, The Education Store
Introduction to Nature of Teaching Sneak Peek Videos, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources

Rod Williams, Professor of Wildlife Science
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Jason Hoverman, Professor of Vertebrate Ecology
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Jarred Brooke teaching about animal prints.Purdue Extension wildlife specialist Jarred Brooke was honored by the College of Agriculture PK-12 Council on Thursday with the Staff Excellence Award for his work with PK-12 audiences to expand their interest in and preparation for careers in natural resource sciences.

The Council’s Outreach and Engagement Awards were established to recognize, reward and celebrate faculty and staff involved in successful outreach and engagement activities and to encourage the improvement and expansion of those activities.

 

“Winning this award is truly an honor,” Brooke said. “Working with PK-12 youth and youth educators is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. Each time I see students or teachers have those ‘aha moments’ while connecting with nature it reaffirms that I chose the right career. I would not have been able to win this award if it were not for the help of my many great colleagues at Purdue, other universities, and beyond.

“Connecting youth with nature is so vital because their outdoor experiences now will shape how they view and understand nature as adults, ultimately influencing their willingness to protect and conserve the natural world in the future.”

Brooke, who earned his wildlife degree from Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources in 2012, joined the FNR staff in August 2016. His extension work impacting youth includes conservation field days, writing natural resources-based curricula for The Nature of Teaching signature program, and also planning and overseeing the 4-H and FFA Wildlife Habitat Education Program contest among other things.

For full article >>>

Resources:
Nature of Teaching, Purdue Agriculture
Natural of Teaching YouTube Channel
Indiana 4-H Youth Development, Purdue Extension
4-H Academy, Purdue Extension
College of Agriculture PK-12 Council Outreach and Engagement Awards, Purdue Agriculture
National Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP), Teaching Youth Valuable Skills

Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Posted on March 23rd, 2021 in How To, Nature of Teaching, Wildlife | No Comments »

NOT_VirtualWorkshops

The Nature of Teaching Extension program includes formal standards-based curricula and informal activity-based curricula, all centered around getting youth outside. Topics included are Food Waste, Health & Wellness, and Wildlife. Each program area provides standards-based, classroom-ready, free lesson plans with downloadable PDFs.

The resources keep growing with now opportunities to take the virtual workshops and receive a certificate of completion. The webinars include all the links to the material for K-12 curriculum and activities available. Whether you are a teacher, natural resource leader or a 4-H leader you have the opportunity to use the prepared curriculum with fun activities while teaching K-12 youth about natural resources, conservation, and the environment.

Resources
Virtual Workshops, Nature of Teaching
Nature of Teaching, Website, Purdue College of Agriculture
The Nature of Teaching, YouTube channel
Transporting Food Waste, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Benefits of Connecting with Nature, The Education Store
Nature of Teaching: Common Mammals of Indiana, The Education Store

Rod Williams, Professor of Wildlife Science & Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Posted on January 5th, 2021 in How To, Nature of Teaching, Publication | No Comments »

FNR-609-WThis Nature of Teaching lesson plan teaches students how the transportation of food and food waste affects the environment. Students will expand their vocabulary, broaden their geography, and have fun working on their math skills as they calculate food miles. A list of materials needed and activity instructions for interactive, hands-on activities are included, along with Next Generation Science Standards and/or Core Standards met by these lesson plans.

The Nature of Teaching includes formal standards-based curricula and informal activity-based curricula all centered around getting youth outside. The three program areas of the formal curricula include: Wildlife, Health and Wellness, and Food Waste. Each program area provides standards-based lesson plans free as a downloadable PDF. Lesson plans are classroom ready for grades K-12.

Resources
Nature of Teaching, website and Youtube Channel
The Nature of Teaching: Food Waste Solutions, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
The Nature of Teaching: Food Waste and the Environment, The Education Store
Food Waste and Natural Resources Lesson Plans, The Education Store
What a Waste of Food! Lesson Plans and PowerPoint, The Education Store
Introduction to Nature of Teaching Sneak Peek Videos, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources

Rod Williams, Professor of Wildlife Science
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

NOTAwardBannerCalling all teachers and parents: Do you need some new ideas on how to get students out in nature or teach them science lessons?

We’ve got you covered with our Nature of Teaching program. We’ve created more than 40 sneak peek videos that introduce you to our lesson plans, offering a quick way for teachers and other K-12 leaders to view the lessons as well as the related activities.

Many of the lesson plans meet state specifications for Next Generation Science Standards and/or Core Standards, while also offering informal curriculum items and fun activities for all K-12 leaders.

Sneak Peek Video Set Up on Web

The Nature of Teaching program offers three areas of formal and informal activity-based curricula centered around getting youth outside: wildlife, health and wellness, and food waste.

Sneak Peeks videos include topics ranging from producers, consumers and natural resources and food waste from farm to fork, to exploring nature with your senses and emotional vocabulary exploration, to trees of the Midwest and healthy water/happy home.

Subscribe to the Nature of Teaching YouTube Channel for more Wildlife, Food Waste, and Health and Wellness information.

Resources
Nature of Teaching Website
Nature of Teaching YouTube Channel
Nature of Teaching Program Receives Environmental Education Award, College of Agriculture, Purdue University
Resourceful Animal Relationships, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
The Nature of Teaching: Food Waste Solutions, The Education Store
Benefits of Connecting with Nature, The Education Store

Rod N Williams, Professor of Wildlife Science
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

NOTAwardBannerThe Nature of Teaching, a Purdue Extension signature program, was honored as the third place finisher in the central region for the Environmental Education Award presented by the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Science (NEAFCS).
The Environmental Education Award recognizes NEAFCS members for outstanding educational programs conducted for families and/or communities on various environmental issues/concerns.
The Nature of Teaching includes formal standards-base curricula and informal activity-based curricula centered around getting youth outside. The program curricula is focused on three areas: Wildlife, Health and Wellness, and Food Waste. Classroom ready lesson plans for grades kindergarten through 12 are available as are professional development workshops for teachers, focused on science, the environment and getting students connected with nature.
“I’m very happy to have the Nature of Teaching team recognized by our professional association as many team members are also members of the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences,” health and human sciences extension educator Kelsie Jo Muller said. “The Nature of Teaching team has developed over multiple years and added different discipline areas all working together. It’s great to see all of the hard work recognized.”

NOTTeamThe Nature of Teaching team includes:

  • Deb Arseneau, HHS Educator, Newton County
  • Jarred Brooke, extension wildlife specialist
  • Jay Christiansen, health and human sciences extension educator for Vigo County
  • Robert Cordes, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) wildlife special projects coordinator
  • Molly Hoag, health and human sciences extension educator for Wells County
  • Molly Hunt, health and human sciences extension educator for Delaware County
  • Rebecca Koetz, urban ag/home horticulture extension educator for Lake County
  • Tami Mosier, 4-H youth development extension educator
  • Kelsie Muller, health and human sciences extension educator for Benton County
  • Dr. Rod Williams, professor of wildlife science
  • Brad Zitscke, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) assistant regional wildlife biologist
All of the NEAFCS awards will be presented in September as part of the NEAFCS Virtual Annual Session.
Resources
Nature of Teaching
Nature of Teaching YouTube Channel
Transporting Food Waste, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Resourceful Animal Relationships, The Education Store
Benefits of Connecting with Nature, The Education Store

Nature of Teaching

Welcome to the Nature of Teaching Professional Development Webinar Series: Ecotoxicology Part 1. This webinar shared by Rod Williams, a professor and extension wildlife specialist with Purdue University Extension, and Jason Hoverman, an associate professor at Purdue University and a co-author on the unit on ecotoxicology, discusses the principles of ecotoxicology, contaminants, and threats to the freshwater ecosystems.

This webinar shares the resources teachers, and K-12 leaders, need to teach students about ecotoxicology. This state standard curriculum includes free downloads of posters, photos, charts, data sheets, and fun activities along with the opportunity to receive a Certificate of Completion. 

Resources
The Nature of Teaching: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Health, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Benefits of Connecting with Nature, The Education Store
The Nature of Teaching: Disease Ecology, The Education Store
Resourceful Animal Relationships, The Education Store
The Nature of Teaching, YouTube Channel
Nature of Teaching, Website

Rod Williams, Professor of Wildlife Science
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Jason Hoverman, Associate Professor Vertebrate Ecology
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Got Nature?

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