|
SPEAKING
TO SCHOOL GROUPS AND TEACHERS
The
preservationists have concentrated major resources on educating the
youth of America to their side of the debate. Their message about fuzzy
warm animals and moss growing on trees is an easier "sell" than our
message of renewable resources, forest management, multiple-use, jobs,
and products. Nevertheless, schoolchildren represent a wonderful audience
for the stewardship and forest utilization message. Sharing with them
about logging, or active forest management now will influence the decisions
they make as adults. And children have power; they can be very active
in influencing other children and their families.
This
special audience requires extra thought and preparation, keeping in
mind their learning level and attention span, as well as a good deal
of patience and understanding. However, speaking to kids can be a lot
of fun!. Kids are naturally honest and usually curious. Here are a few
tips for working with kids:
-
Keep
your presentation short, know your messages, and plan for questions
and answers-just like with adults.
-
Plan
to bring some hands-on goodies. Slices of trees to show growth
rings, a pair of chaps, a helmet, slides of machines, a choker. Foresters
also have a variety of tools they use in the field - though not as
interesting as loggers' equipment!
-
Be
enthusiastic about your work! In rural communities, you can usually
relate to several kids in the class, because their dads or moms are
in the woods or keeping the books.
-
Contact
your state forestry association to find out where to get good
forestry/harvesting material, and other kid-oriented materials, including
computer CDs.
Events
That Can Get You in the Door
Speaking to Teachers
Web
Sites with Resources for Teachers and Kids
<Return
to Speaking to the Public> <Return to
Be Active!>
Forest Resources Association
Inc. (FRA)
600 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 350,
Rockville, MD 20852
FRA National office telephone: 301/838-9385
Click here for FRA Staff and FRA Division
contact information
FRA Site Map
|
