When we speak of Conservation Edu- 

 cation we are usually concerned with a 

 program that can be an integral part 

 of our public school curriculum. Aca- 

 demically we want to help our young 

 people become aware of their respons- 

 ibilities as conservationists and also 

 teach them what our environment is 

 like in its natural state. 



At a time when it is popular to 

 become environmentally concerned, it 

 is interesting to know that several 

 state and federal agencies cooper- 

 ated in a project to help the sight- 

 less in our midst so that they too, 

 could enjoy the beauties of the world 

 about us. 



Through the leadership of the 

 Montana Federation of Woman's Clubs 

 a Braille Nature Garden was estab- 

 lished. at the School for the Deaf 

 and Blind at Great Falls. The agen- 

 cies involved. The Soil Conservation 

 Service, The Cooperative Extension 

 Service and the Montana State For- 

 estry (Department were asked to pro- 

 vide soil surveys, planting recom- 

 mendations, and assistance in trans- 

 planting and establishing the vari- 

 ous materials. 



The results of the extensive 

 planning became a reality this Arbor 

 Day when boys from the Swan River 

 Youth Camp under the direction of the 

 State Forestry Department placed the 

 first six descriptive stations on 

 the campus. On each pedestal, which 



they also constructed, is mounted a met- 

 al placque with both the braille and reg- 

 ular script which describes the nearby 

 tree or shrub. These placques, prepared 

 by the personnel at the School for the 

 Blind, suggest that one can enjoy special 

 plant charactistics through senses not 

 usua I ly used. 



Did you know some leaves feel smooth 

 on the top and fuzzy undernea+h? 



Do you listen to the quaking leaves 

 of an aspin? 



Do you notice the difference in the 

 aroma of some plants? 



All these beauties of nature can best 

 be enjoyed when they are shared with others .• 

 This Braille Nature Garden will provide 

 this enjoyment as it continues to be de- 

 ve loped, 



K it if 



FISHING AND CLEAN WATERS 

 GET INCREASED ATTENTION 



Cleaning up the waterways across Amer- 

 ica will get new emphasis in Scouting act- 

 ivities, as part of the decision by the 

 Boy Scouts of America, to make Project 

 SOAR a continuing Scout program. 



The Project, designed to "Save Our 

 American Resources", was initiated this 

 year at the request of President Nixon. 

 He urged an education and action program 

 for improvement of the environment. The 

 response by the nation's 6 million Scouts 

 and leaders prompted a renewal of the pro- 

 gram for 1972. 



Ted Rett it, BSA Conservation Direc- 

 tor, said a special advisory committee of 

 sportsmen and conservationists would be Ai 

 named to develop a complete program, but 

 that the effect of pollution on fish and 

 fishing, including aquatic biology, will 

 have a high rating In the educational part 

 of the effort. 



The attack on pollution caused by 

 soil erosion in streams, rivers, lakes 

 and reservoirs will include projects to 

 stabilize banks by planting, grass, shrubs, 

 or trees or riprapping or development of 

 other structures. 



Besides the positive action, ero- 

 sion control and the resulting pollu- 

 tion control projects. Scouting activ- 

 ity will incorporate programs of fun, 

 skill and conservation in the educa- 

 tional aspects. They will be patter- 

 ned after the Scouts "fish derbies", 

 designed to teach basic conservation 

 principles to the young people. 



(This page sponsored by the Montana 

 Ladies Auxl I iary) 



This fishing business is 

 really simple All you have to 

 do is get tht-re yesterday, when 

 the fish were biting. 



