Free and Low-Cost Publications
Publishes "Nature Naturally," a newsletter with activities for kids. Five editions per school year, $5; also provides free educational materials on butterflies.
Center for Environmental Educators
881 Alma Real Dr Suite 300
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
(310) 454-4585
Free newsletter providing a link between educators and environmental resources.
The Extension Service has many free publications that may be useful for schools developing outdoor classrooms. Contact your local extension office to determine which publications are available. Some titles to look for include:
Butterflies and Hummingbirds: Attracting and Enjoying. Butterfly plants, butterfly identification, how to photograph butterflies and hummingbirds
Composting: Feed your Landscape
Georgia's Native Trees: lists the native trees of Georgia.
Home and Garden Tips: Building Houses for Birds, Hawks, Owls and Bats. 25 pp.
Landscape Plant Materials for Georgia. 35 pp.
Native Trees of DeKalb County.
Ornamental Horticulture Facts Environmental Enhancement with Ornamentals: Butterfly Gardening.
Shade Plants for the Atlanta Area.
A Shady Perennial Garden. Instructions for planting and lists numerous shade tolerant plants. 6pp.
Soil Preparation and Planting Procedures for Ornamental Plants in the Landscape. Step-by-step guidelines from surveying an area for planting to care for planting success. 15pp.
Those Incredible Hummingbirds: Explains hummingbird biology and plant attractors for them.
Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission
Nongame Wildlife Program
620 South Meridian St.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Planting a Refuge for Wildlife. Habitat building, planting, and identification. 33pp.
Georgia Experiment Station
P.O. Box 645
Experiment, GA 30212
(770) 229-3367
Butterfly Starter Kit/Curriculum. Contact station in March for details concerning price and ordering information. Includes specifics on all plants included in kit and common butterflies that the plants will attract.
School Yard Nature Centers. Resource for getting started -- ideas, making plans, curriculum ideas by grade. 18 pp.
Native Trees of Georgia. Pocket-sized reference book describing 92 native tree species of Georgia. 96 pp. Limited quantity.
U.S. Forest Service posters: birds, butterflies, fish, flowers, animal tracks, insects, leaves, lizards, mammals, nests, trees - inside and out, state trees. Limited quantity.
Trees - Friends for life. Georgia Trees Coalition. 1995. 10 pp. Listing of tree species, both exotic and native for planting in Atlanta. Information on growth rate, zone, silhouette and other remarks. Free.
Attracting Wildlife to Your Backyard. 1991. Full-color handbook produced by GWF and Georgia DNR that gives step-by-step instructions for creating a wildlife habitat. $6.25 (includes taxes and S&H).
Habitat. Newsletter. Free publication distributed 4 times per school year to teachers and schools throughout Georgia. Contains tips and advice on developing Schoolyard Wildlife Habitats, obtaining funding, examples from other schools, and more. Call GWF to be placed on the mailing list.
Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat Planning Guide. 1995. 32-page guide for developing outdoor classrooms; tips on fundraising, community involvement, planting ideas, and more. (*One free copy is available for each school in Georgia. Requests for free copies must be submitted on school letterhead and signed by the school principal.) Additional copies $14 (includes taxes and S&H).
Geosphere Environmental Education Training Center
EarthFest and Working in the Magic Garden. K-5 outdoor classroom curricula correlated with Georgia QCCs. $6 each
Indiana Division of Forestry
402 W. Washington, Room 296
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 232-4105
Teaching Outdoors on Your School Site. Free pamphlet describing how certain features of your schoolgrounds can be used for education.
Guidelines and Features for Outdoor Classrooms: 53 pp. Reference. Correlates Project Wild and Project Learning Tree (see p. 8-9) Lesson Plans with features of the classroom. $2.00.
Meta Nature Products
P.O. Box 1099
Hudson, NY 12534
1-800-META-013
Meta Guide to Wildbird Feeding. 1991. 1 p. 9" x 12" folded card stock showing birds and their preferred food. Free.
National 4-H Council Publications
4-H Supply
P.O. Box 79126
Baltimore, MD 21279-0126
(301) 961-2934
Exploring the World of Plants and Soils
Junior Members Manual
Plant Reproduction
Soils
Plant Characteristics
Leader's Guide
Trees
Food Production and Pesticides
Soils Alive from Tiny Rock to Compost
Biodegradable Polymers
On Common Ground: To Build a Trail...Enhancing America's Pathways. 1994. Book and video for management, from design to maintenance. $14.95 + S/H.
National Wildlife Federation Publications
Contact NWF's Atlanta office or national headquarters at:
Schoolyard Habitats
8925 Leesburg Pike
Vienna, VA 22184-0001
703-790-9582
Schoolyard Habitats Information Kit. 1996. A 15-page general introduction to developing schoolyard wildlife habitats, including a reference list. Prepaid application for Certification of Habitat is included.
Ranger Rick and Your Big Backyard magazines offer kids (and adults) age 3 and up a chance to learn more about wildlife through stories and photos. Ranger Rick also sponsors an Earthsavers Club for youth.
Animal Tracks Activity Guide for Educators Grade 4-6. (National Wildlife Federation, 1995) Activity guide with 40+ classroom-tested cross-curricular hands-on activities. Companion student workbooks also available free with shipping & handling.
Orkin Pest Control
550 Technology Park
Lake Mary, FL 32746
Insect Zookeeping. Classroom projects. Free to teachers (send request on school letterhead).
Texas Agricultural Extension Service
College Station, Texas 77840
Nature Trails: describes different types of nature trails; planning and development. 18pp. For a copy contact: Soil and Water Conservation Specialist
U. S. Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Using 10 minute walks in outdoor classrooms. Literally a concept easily covered in a 10 minute outside experience. Free, can be reprinted as needed.
Miscellaneous publications and videos available. Contact local office.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Publications
Backyard Habitat for Wildlife: Attracting Butterflies
Backyard Habitat for Wildlife: Plants for your Backyard Habitat
Backyard Habitat for Wildlife: Attracting Hummingbirds
Georgia Outdoor Classroom Council Resource Guide, October
1997 Edition
Send comments to: lcrowder@mindspring.com