The More You Know, The More You Can Do.
Just about everything we do has an impact on nature and the environment. And everything in nature impacts our lives. That’s why we all need to understand the world around us and know how to help preserve nature.
Be Smart about Nature / Be Good to Nature
Be Safe in Nature / For Parents
About this Campaign / About the USDA Forest Service
Be Smart about Nature
Every time you go on an adventure outdoors, you learn something new. Like how the forest changes in spring, summer, fall, and winter. That’s what’s so cool about getting to know the forest.
Check out some of the websites below — you’ll learn all sorts of things about nature!
- Celebrating Wildflowers is dedicated to the enjoyment of the thousands of wildflowers growing in our national forests and grasslands, and to educating the public about the many values of native plants.
- Hands on the Land Student Websites features student websites from a national network of field classrooms connecting students, teachers, and parents to their public lands and waterways.
- The Natural Inquirer Issues Archive allows you to download issues of journals created by scientists to share their research with middle school students.
- America’s Rainforests for Students helps students understand the basic ecology and function of both tropical and temperate rainforests.
- Monarch Live increases the understanding of monarch butterfly biology, life cycle, and ecology, and how the U.S., Mexico, and Canada need to work together for the health of monarchs.
- USDA Forest Service Conservation and Education Students Page is a portal to help students connect to the land through information related to sustaining natural and cultural resources.
- NatureWatch has video webcams of animals, so you can do some nature watching online, and information to help you learn how to get out there and nature watch for yourself.
Be Good to Nature
There’s an old saying about being in nature that goes, “Take only pictures, leave only footprints.“ That’s pretty simple, but it has a lot of meaning. We can all enjoy nature if we take care of it.
These websites have many tips on how to be kind to nature (and fun games to play as well):
- Tread Lightly! Kids has activities and games for you to play. “Lightfoot” the squirrel helps teach humans to tread lightly in nature.
- The EPA Environmental Kids Club has games, pictures, and stories that’ll help you explore the environment and learn how to protect it.
- Leave No Trace will teach you some the things you need to keep in mind so you can be responsible while enjoying nature.
Be Safe in Nature
There are all kinds of reasons to be safe in nature. Protecting the environment and protecting ourselves are two important ones. If you keep a few basic rules in mind, you can enjoy the outdoors without hurting any plants, animals, or yourself!
- Animals have their own food, so please don’t feed them.
- Berries and mushrooms might look tasty, but they can make you sick - be careful not to eat them.
- Forests can be dangerous during thunderstorms.
- Don’t go swimming unless there’s a lifeguard.
- Train tracks are for trains — stay off them.
- When outdoors watch out for the hot sun — wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water.
- Always wear a helmet when biking.
- If someone gets hurt, get help or call an adult as soon as possible.
- Always be careful with fire when you’re out in nature. Visit Smokey the Bear to learn more.
For Parents
As parents, you probably remember going outside to play. You didn’t need anything but your imagination and the great outdoors. Now it’s your kids’ turn. They want to go out and play, too. So go ahead, take them to your nearest forest or park.
About this Campaign
We’re helping kids discover and connect with the amazing world of nature through an engaging Public Service Advertising campaign.
About the USDA Forest Service
The Forest Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, established in 1905. Their mission is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
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