The CONSERVATION EDUCATION (CE) program of the Nebraska Forest Service can provide a variety of activities and resources to teach about the environment and engage children in the outdoors.
Why is it Important?
Children who are connected to the natural world can positively shape the future. Unfortunately, today’s children are disconnected from the outdoors. Recent studies have shown that youth, ages 3–12, are spending 27 percent of their time with electronic media and only 1 percent in the outdoors. Spending less time outside has been shown to be one factor that leads to a variety of problems, such as attention difficulties, obesity, diminished use of the senses, and disconnect from things that are real.
Most importantly, if children are not connected to the environment, how will they learn about, understand, and take care it? We know that forests and trees provide clean air, clean water, and wood products we use every day. And water is important for all life on earth. Children need to be engaged in the outdoors and environmental issues to make these connections and to understand the importance of being good stewards of the earth.
The CE program offers fun, hands-on training for formal and non-formal educators, preservice students, natural resource professionals, preschool and daycare providers, and more. Participants are provided with educational materials to use in their programs.
For more information, contact:
Jennifer Swerczek, Conservation Education Coordinator, Project Learning Tree (PLT) and Project WET
Nebraska Forest Service
P.O. Box 830965
Lincoln, NE 68583-0965
(402) 472-7765
jswerczek2@unl.edu
The CE program is sponsored by the Nebraska Forest Service and granted funded through the Nebraska Environmental Trust.
