Mapping the Local Flora and Fauna
(Spring/Summer 2000)

Often educators immediately imagine studies of the rain forest, the everglades or endangered tigers when they hear of environmental education. Many educators are unaware of the existence of specially adapted flora and fauna struggling to make a living right out their doors. Because so much of Idaho is rural (this is true for many areas of the west -- especially the Rocky Mountain states), opportunities for regional studies of natural systems may be found right outside our door. In my role as director of the Sawtooth Science Institute, I have found that educators are eager to come to Sun Valley to learn about the geology and plants and animals of this mountainous region. Yet what is most critically needed is guidance to design and implement studies of the natural communities lying right outside their classroom door.

NatureMapping, a GIS (geographical information systems) project, guides teachers to design close-to-home field studies appropriate for their access to field sites, age of their students, access to technology, and technological expertise. In Washington state, 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders are adopting field sites, gathering data on the animals of their communities and submitting it on paper forms to a centralized database. Middle school and high school students often have the capability of documenting the plant communities and submitting digitized information. Not only is this an opportunity for students, teachers and community mentors to learn about the local flora and fauna and practice real scientific studies but they are making a real contribution to their communities. Information they provide is valuable to land managers, biologists and conservation professionals in assessing ecological health.

A community GIS project can also contribute to a democratic land-use planning process. My county, Blaine County, home to "world famous" Sun Valley, is experiencing tremendous growth. This growth, while good for the economy threatens to destroy the very reason so many people want to live here! A small task force of land managers, conservationists and educators have agreed that providing pertinent information to the greatest number of community members and encouraging their participation in the process would be the surest way to arrive at sustainable land use. We are hoping that by identifying ecologically critical areas, we might come to a democratically established plan that balances respect for natural systems with the needs of the human community. Maps, created using the tools of GIS software and technology, are the visual products that may lead us to better longterm decisions. But, perhaps the most important aspect of the project, is not in learning to use the tools but is a model of a community group taking the initiative to collect, understand, and manage local information and use it to exert local control over land use planning in a reasoned and informed way.

Natural Heritage Project Underway at ISU
(Summer 1999)

Idaho Museum Of Natural History Receives $1.34 Million National Science Foundation Grant

A $1.34 million grant from the National Science Foundation has been awarded to the Idaho Museum of Natural History at Idaho State University. The award funds a statewide educational outreach program called "Treasuring Our Natural Heritage."

The Natural Heritage Project, which runs until December 2001, will create and distribute interactive traveling exhibits, multimedia science kits, and educational videos. The exhibits will be displayed at schools, libraries, community centers and other public buildings throughout the Idaho. Science kits will be made available to classroom teachers as well as other educators such as scout leaders, county extension agents, and resource agency personnel. A series of three half-hour television shows will be filmed and broadcast on public television. The project’s science kits and videos will eventually have nationwide distribution.

Special attention will be given to serving the needs of Idaho’s widely-dispersed rural populations, explained Natural Heritage Program executive director Allen Jackson.

"Since a lot of rural people can’t easily come to the Idaho Museum of Natural History, we’re taking the resources of their museum to them," said Jackson.

The Natural Heritage Project’s educational products will be evaluated by teams of biologists, educators, and Idaho citizens. "Treasuring Our Natural Heritage" will serve as a model for others trying to reach rural people with enjoyable and relevant educational programs from museums.

To meet the project’s ambitious goals, a theme of "The Economy of Nature" will be used throughout the exhibits, science kits, and videos. This metaphor shows how animals and plants hold "occupations" in their natural environments.

"We’ll show how all animals and plants interact through an exchange of goods and services. We’ll help participants understand the similarities between the workings of nature and our human economy," said Stefan Sommer, project director of "Treasuring Our Natural Heritage."

The grant was made by NSF’s Informal Science Education Program, which supports innovative and creative projects at museums, zoos, and nature centers throughout the country. In addition to the NSF money, ISU is providing cost-sharing support and the Natural Heritage Project is required to raise private funds to supplement its work.

A lead gift has already been received from Micron Government Computer Systems Inc. in the form of donated computer systems. The donation is valued at $28,600.

The gift included nine Millenia 450 MAX computers and accompanying monitors and sound systems. Three computers are being used by Natural Heritage Project staff. The remaining six computers will become part of traveling exhibits that will begin touring Idaho in 2000. These systems will be installed as learning kiosks running interactive multimedia programs.

In addition to Jackson and Sommer, the Natural Heritage Project employs four others: Amy Lafferty, environmental educator; Donny Roush, outreach programming manager; Bill Mitchell, multimedia specialist; and Cara Sonnemann, associate environmental educator.

Those interested in learning more about the Natural Heritage Project should call (208) 236-5842.

... Professional development opportunities abound in IDAHO! From river rafting to hiking, from technology to biodiversity, the Idaho EE Association is proud to offer scholarships to educators seeking to expand their horizons. Information on our many workshops is available by contacting me, executive secretary for IdEEA: Chris Gertschen, P.O. Box 2167, Sun Valley, Idaho 83353, cgertsch@micron.net, (208) 788-9686. Scholarship information is available from Dr. Richard McCloskey, rmcclosk@email.boisestate.edu.
Our web site address: http://rmcclos.boisestate.edu/~iseee/