Program Information
Wetlands provide a vital link between water and land. In the past, wetlands were regarded as wastelands and as places to avoid or, better yet, eliminate. Largely because of this negative view, more than half of America's original wetlands have been destroyed – drained and converted to farmland, filled for housing developments and industrial facilities, or used to dispose of household and industrial waste.
We now know that wetlands are, in fact, valuable natural resources. Whether drier or wetter, bigger or smaller, wetlands provide important benefits to people and the environment. Wetlands help regulate water levels within watersheds; improve water quality; reduce flood and storm damages; provide important fish and wildlife habitat; support fishing, and other recreational activities; and provide inspiration. Wetlands are natural wonderlands of great value.
WetlandsLIVE: A Distance Learning Adventure will provide a year-long emphasis on wetlands with activities and information for students and teachers. WetlandsLIVEwill be the sixth in a series of Forest Service distance learning adventures and will provide teachers and students with a fun, informative, and interactive way to learn about wetlands. WetlandsLIVE addresses the need for conservation education by providing students with a high-interest learning opportunity. Teachers will be able to use this project as a resource to meet science standards, get students involved in citizen science, become wetland stewards, and become knowledgeable, engaged, and active conservationists.
WetlandsLIVE will make the best use of existing curricula, activities, and citizen science projects for students and classrooms so that they may become involved in wetland conservation activities and in learning outdoors.
