Adventures in Ecology

"While many books lament the growing distance between people and the natural world, Adventures in Ecology does something more difficult: it offers a way back," series editor Robert Mace writes in his foreword. Organized around sixteen branches of science, Adventures in Ecology: A Guidebook to Inspire Future Conservationists cultivates an ecological perspective rooted in the sciences and within the context of play, exploration, and shared experiences that create lifelong memories. This guidebook expands upon the Ecologist School curriculum for Families in Nature, a nonprofit organization founded and directed by Heather Kuhlken that aims to inspire everyone to fall in love with nature and to foster the next generation of conservationists. For each branch of science, Adventures in Ecology offers hands-on activities in eight categories: science, technology, engineering, art, math, outdoor skills, volunteer work, and leadership. Drawing from her teaching experiences guiding families in nature and her own family's travels around the globe, Kuhlken promotes ecological literacy by helping readers understand how ecosystems function, how organisms and their environment are connected, and how the larger world works. Adapted for use by parents, educators, organizations, and communities, this engaging work connects people of all ages to-and through-nature. Richly illustrated, Adventures in Ecology is a much needed, internationally relevant resource for anyone working to connect young people with the natural world.