The central part of Indiana, prior to settlement, was primarily
covered in forest. Today, with all residential, commercial,
industrial and transportation land cover, most of the forest
areas have disappeared. That means many children have lost any
association with what forests are or were. However, a new
website, "Finding My Forest," has developed to provide some
connections to the forest again. The site offers
interdisciplinary lessons allowing parents, teachers and outdoor
educators to connect with children's diverse learning styles.
The free forest conservation educational material and curriculum
may be accessed at www.findingmyforest.org. Today's children
have little free time, between school, scheduled activities,
television, computers and cell phones. "Finding My Forest"
provides the tools needed to help integrate the wonder of
forests right into youth education efforts. Interested
individuals may start by taking a "virtual hike," downloading
the curriculum or exploring the rest of the site to find info