Professor Rich Bowden receives WRCP grant for forest ecosystems education program
Pennsylvania's forests are an important natural resource that contributes critically to the commonwealth's forest-based economy and to maintenance of invaluable ecosystem services. Despite this importance, current studies indicate a declining interest among high school students in studies of forest ecosystems. To assist future generations become familiar with the importance of the commonwealth's forests and to develop and enhance an understanding of critical issues (e.g. wildlife management, invasive species, forest management, air pollution, climate change) influencing the integrity of Pennsylvania's forests, we propose to develop a high school-oriented program with modules that contain forest study exercises. A central component of this program will be inclusion of modern forest research equipment that will be available for loan to high school teachers and that will enable high school students and teachers to engage in hands-on, minds-on forest investigations. We will establish these programs at five primary sites around the state where students will have access to locations for forest studies, and importantly, where there is strong programmatic support to advertise, support, and maintain these activities. We will host a workshop for site coordinators, professional development workshop for high school teachers, and a Web site devoted to module support.