Wisconsin has a rich history of land stewardship and environmentalism. It inspired the conservation ethics of Aldo Leopold, Sigurd Olson, and John Muir. U.S. Senator (and former Governor) Gaylord Nelson championed conservation legislation and was one of the main advocates for the first Earth Day in 1970.

In Washington, Nelson was also a pioneer in developing environmental education programs for youth. In November of 1969, he introduced the Environmental Quality Education Act to bring outdoor education into classrooms around the nation. The bill was enacted into law the following year.

Today, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is ensuring that the land stewardship tradition is passed along to the next generation with its many youth programs, which can be found on the education page of the DNR website.

EEK! Environmental Education for Kids

This e-magazine for kids in grades 4-8 might “scare” you with all the activities it features. Kids can browse the “Critter Corner,” learn about environmental issues on the “Our Earth” page, find out what a job in natural resources and biology is like, and find all sorts of other environment-themed activities. There is a teacher resources page to help educators incorporate EEK! into the classroom. From this page you can sign up for the DNR Education listserv to stay on top of the latest resources.

Other Kids Programs

The internet is a gateway to learning about nature. When you want to actually experience the great outdoors and be amongst nature, the Wisconsin DNR has plenty of programs and activities. The Junior Ranger/Wisconsin Explorer program, for instance, provides activities for kids when they visit state parks. Check out the drop-down menu under the Kids Programs heading to find out more.

Among the many activities and projects in the “Teacher and Youth Leader Programs” section, a few to note that are related to planning are the “Where’s the Air?” kit, teacher workshops, citizen stream and lake monitoring, invasive species educational resources, mercury-free schools, and many other diverse resources.

There is also a K-12 publications section includes an order form for DNR publications and activity kits, another link to the e-newsletter/listserv signup, and a link to Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine.