For many others, a refuge might serve as a place to rest and feed during a long migration. Many wildlife refuges serve other needs, too, such as space for military training and grazing of livestock, natural water purification, recreation, and a place where people can retreat from urban environments. You can help your students start to understand what these special places are for and to appreciate the wildlife refuges or similar sanctuaries near their homes. Rest for the Weary Students could begin by talking about trips they have taken. Work in the idea of needing a safe place to sleep and a place to get meals once in a while, as well as gasoline if traveling by car.
Migratory birds make long journeys as well.
Using a map of North America, have students decide what routes birds might follow as they travel from Alaska and Canada to Central and South America. Ask them questions about places en route. Safe places to rest and food to eat. Since many of them are waterbirds, they need lakes and rivers and marshes. Students can identify refuges that are near heavily populated or urban places and discuss where the migratory birds might stay if there were no such places set aside for them.