The Big Picture
To understand how the forest works, you have to look at the bigger picture. Foresters use maps to help them understand and better manage the forest. These maps are coded to indicate what type of trees grow there, ages of the different trees, locations of streams and lakes and of roads and other man-made or natural geographical features. Maps and aerial photos also indicate the contour and slope of the land.
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 Map an Outdoor Plan
Develop an outdoor plan for your school, backyard or other outdoor areas. Use the information and special grid that we provide.
1. . Add buildings, driveways, walks and fences. Sketch in trees, shrubs, flowerbeds and lawns; creeks and ponds; hills and low areas.
2. . Here are some to consider: areas for wildlife habitat, a woodland trail, trees for shade and birds, shrubs for borders where rabbits hide, a small fish pond, a place for cookouts and outdoor entertainment, playground equipment, a basketball hoop, vegetable garden, wildflower garden, butterfly flower garden, benches for resting.
Think of all the things you like to do and the wildlife you would like to see and plan a space for it. Remember, some spaces can be used for more than one thing. But you may have to decide which improvements or additions are most important and which have to be left out. That’s called prioritizing and all good managers do that.
3. . Label or make a key to the various areas and items in the diagram. Present your plan to family, or a group of adults if it’s your school or church yard, and ask them to help you start carrying out your plan.
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Forest Close-Ups
You can look at a forest in many different ways. Stretch your neck and look up through the layers of the forest to spot birds and squirrels. Pick apart a decaying log to find birds and insects that live inside, or check out a tree to identify its species and determine the forest type.
If you look closely at a forest, you can observe interesting things about the forest and the creatures that live there.
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1. Often, nature provides excellent
camouflage for its creatures. Look closely to identify the living
object above.
Go to the answer.
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2. This track was made by a
forest dweller on the edge of a pond. Can you identify what
made this track?
Go to the answer.
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