The primary goal was to enhance awareness and appreciation for the forest, its beauty, preservation, and management. The causes of lack of use were determined by surveying local teachers. The most prominent obstacles identified by the survey were removed by coordination of resources, county-wide planning, and inservice training. Teachers and students were provided with opportunities to learn in the forest. Teachers who participated in inservice training reported feeling more competent teaching the concepts, and students showed greater interest and gains in environmental knowledge after visiting the forest.
Results indicate that participants have limited knowledge about the environment.
While not scoring significantly higher, forestry majors did score enough higher to suggest that their more science-based academic requirements increase their knowledge and therefore their environmental commitment. Based on the low scores of participants, it is recommended that greater emphasis be placed on environmental education at all educational levels and that elementary education, recreation, and forestry majors have more required course work in ecology and environmental studies. Guia de Educacion Ambiental para Maestros del Nivel Primario. Los Recursos Naturales en la Ensenanza Primaria. Natural Resources in Primary Instruction.