UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- White-tailed deer are an endangered species. Cutting trees destroys forests. These are the kinds of misconceptions that prompted an educator in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences to develop a series of youth-oriented booklets on Pennsylvania's natural resources.
"If we can teach children to better understand our natural resources, they can grow up to make sound decisions related to the state's landscape and economy," says Sanford Smith, natural resources and youth specialist in the School of Forest Resources.
The "From the Woods" series, for 10- to 14-year-olds, includes full-color photographs and text on topics specifically tailored to Pennsylvania, such as making hardwood lumber from logs, harvesting trees, forest stewardship and making maple syrup.
The booklets can be used in formal and nonformal educational settings, such as schools, environmental centers, parks, urban forestry volunteer organizations, maple festivals, 4-H clubs and scout groups. "Adults enjoy these publications as well," Smith says.
"Maple Syrup: A Taste of Nature" describes the step-by-step process of making maple syrup from trees and the uniqueness of this natural sweetener.
"Forest Stewardship" covers the importance of good forestry practices and conservation to provide for our present and future needs and for tomorrow's forests.
"Harvesting Trees" describes the steps taken when trees are harvested, the importance of good forest management and some of the best practices used.
"Hardwood Lumber" discusses what hardwood lumber is, how it's produced and what makes Pennsylvania one of the top hardwood lumber sources in the world.
"The booklets are useful in many ways," Smith says. "Teachers, professional foresters, environmental educators, homeschoolers, loggers and others involved in youth education have requested them. They're written for grades 6 to 8, but with assistance, other elementary-school students can use them as well."
Single or multiple copies of the booklets are available free of charge for Pennsylvania residents from your county Penn State Cooperative Extension office, or from the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Distribution Center (call 814-865-6713).
To preview or print a sample publication, go to the College of Agricultural Sciences' publications Web site at http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/, click "Search" and enter "From the Woods."
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EDITORS: Sanford Smith can be reached at 814-863-0401.
Contacts: Kim Dionis KDionis@psu.edu 814-863-2703 814-865-1068 fax