The GARNA Upper Arkansas Valley Ecological Literacy Program provides an ecological education curriculum to link school-age children to the natural and cultural resources of the Upper Arkansas Valley. Topics include plant/wildlife life zones, the river ecosystem, and public land management. The goals are to foster environmental stewardship and to encourage young people to explore careers within natural resource agencies. Volunteers from the US Forest Service, US Bureau of Land Management, CO Division of Wildlife, Trout Unlimited, Southwest Conservation Corps and others assisted in implementing the program for the Salida School District, R-32-J. |
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| Elementary students observe and collect data in the sub-alpine environment. |
Back in the classroom, third grader completes his life zone map. |
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| Elementary students show their sketches of the foothills life zone. |
Elementary students playing "predator-prey" game. |
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| Middle school students collecting data about aquatic, riparian and upland habitats near the Arkansas River. |
6th grade students using hula hoop plots to search for different kinds of plants and evidence of animals. |
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| Observation at the Mt Ouray State Wildlife Area. |
After the field trip, middle school students made habitat maps for the Arkansas River. |
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| High school students learning about multi-use issues in Fourmile Recreation Area. |
Learning about trail maintenance from Southwest Conservation Corp staff. |
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10th graders hearing about careers from US Forest Service and US Bureau of Land Management employees. |
Friends of Fourmile and Hi Rocky Riders volunteers discussing sharing the trail. |
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