Educators
Conservation Education helps people of all ages understand and appreciate our country's public lands -- and learn how to conserve those resources for future generations. Conservation education also encourages individuals to act on their own, to conserve environmental resources and protect public lands.
On this page, you'll find:
- Information on Every Kid Outdoors.
- Educational activities to do at home, school, or in the outdoors.
- Free resources, curricula, and activities in conservation education from the Forest Service and our partners.
For more information how you can get involved, be sure to check out our Youth Engagement page.
Every Kid Outdoors
Do you have a 4th grade student in your family, or teach 4th grade? The Every Kid Outdoors program allows fourth graders and their families to discover America's public lands for free. Passes are available online. Parents, guardians, and educators of 4th grade students can go online to print passes for their students.
Seattle Every Kid Outdoors Collaborative
The Seattle Every Kid Outdoors Collaborative is a team of agencies and organizations in the Seattle area, including the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Seattle Area National Park Sites, Washington Trails Association, and more. The Collaborative works together and is unified by one goal: getting every fourth grader outdoors.
Find a website of educational resources from the Collaborative on the In My Backyard Youth Program website, run by Seattle Area National Park Sites.
Educational Activities
At home:
Get your Smokey Bear on and take a pledge to stop the spread of wildfires. Learn about campfire safety, create a story with the story-maker tool, design your own coloring book, and play “Ask Smokey!” to find out what can create fire danger in your backyard.
Color the Forest! Find coloring sheets of all kinds—flowers, animals, trees, leaves, and more. Elementary school students can enter Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl’s Poster Contest.
NatureWatch lets you explore YOUR National Forests all across the United States from home. Virtually visit these sites to learn about their ecosystems, landscapes, and which animals call the forest their home.
In the Classroom:
Go on a distance learning adventure with your class and monarch butterflies! Explore electronic field trips, learn how to protect monarch butterflies, and create your own butterfly garden.
Explore ways to be environmentally friendly with Woodsy the Owl! Challenge your classroom to complete eco-friendly activities and crafts with the Woodsy Owl Activity guide.
Outdoors:
Discover The Forest – Use this website to find your closest parks and what activities are available at them; whether that’s walking, biking, fishing, birdwatching, or something else! Navigate to the activities page for outdoor learning adventures—if you need an activity in the rain, or a plan with few materials and lots of engagement, you’ll find help here.
Become an Agent of Discovery by completing interactive missions and games in your forest and public parks. by completing interactive missions and games in your forests and public parks. Agents of Discovery uses augmented reality to encourage learning while exploring nature. Download the App to play!
At Home or School:
Become a Junior Forest Ranger by finishing your Junior Forest Ranger Adventure Guide. The guide helps youth explore their National Forests and Grasslands and complete fun activities such as mazes, word puzzles, and creating a poster, all while learning about forests and fire, ecosystems, and more! Parents and guardians can download and print the guide; teachers and youth leaders can order guides for free for their classes.
Visit the Forest Service YouTube Channel to find hundreds of educational videos for kids on a range of topics, including wildlife, plants, conservation, and fire.
Additional Resources from the Forest Service
Forest Service Conservation Education: head to our national website and check out the Educator Tool Box and other conservation education materials for students of all ages.
The Natural Inquirer is a free science journal for students. Find lesson plans and resources here for students of all ages! Learn about water, wildernes, fire, and hear from real scientists about their jobs.
Additional Resources from our Partners
Find experiential learning opportunities through the North Cascade Institute Learning Center.
Dive Into the Outdoors and discover a multitude of science topics, including wildlife & conservation and environmental science. Find videos and lesson plans for multiple ages that check off science curriculum standards.