II. An Activity Guide for teacners ajid youm providing teachers with neid, lab, and 

 classroom acavities about the value and runcuon of wetlands, aH designed to build in students 

 an environmentai ethic toward wetlands. Each acuvity in the senes of lesson plans will contain 

 background informanon -- highlights of the informauon lads should acquire dunng the activity. 

 AU acuviaes will be cross-referenced to the more detailed informauon in the companion 

 rererence manual. This component will mclude instructions for building or Durcnasmg basic 

 wetlands sampling equipment. The Watercourse proposes to deveioo six kits containing 

 manuals and sampling matenals for circulaaon -- one of these will be issued to the EPA Region 

 8 office. This guide and the companion rererence manual will be made available to ail school 

 libranes in Montana. 



The ultimate purpose of these user-fnendly matenals is to effecnvely link resource professionals 

 and educators with adult and youth audiences. Wetland values, although well documented by 

 wetland managers and resources specialists, are still misunderstood by most oeoole. As the EP.A 

 and other pnvate and public organizaaons place greater emphasis 'on ciuzen oanicioation m 

 shaping future wetlands policy, the importance of an mformed public becomes paramount. 



Although resource professionals at the Western Watercourse wiU manage and contnbute to this 

 project, its success will rely on wntten contnbutions and advice from leaders m the field who 

 wiU be brought together for concept development and writing meetings. .Another note: This 

 project IS linked with the work proposed by the Claric Fork School which plans to develop a 

 pond life/wetlands curriculum for pre-school and kindergarten- aged kids. If these projects axe 

 funded, the Watercourse invites the Clark Fork School curriculum developen to condense their 

 work into one chapter of the Wetlands Activity Guide proposed by the Watercourse. 

 Following are the specifics of the project: 



IMKI. ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE OF EXPERT WRITERS; ORGANIZE THE 

 WRITING WORKSHOPS. 



A. Qliiesiivg: To consult a professional cross-section of experts in the field (wedand 

 ecologisis, science educators, wetland mangers, etc.), assuring technical accuracv and broad 

 vision m both the children's acuvuy guide and the wedands management manual. (This 

 objective to include the work of the Clark Fork Schooi as a condensed chapter in the 

 Activity Guide.) 



B. Work f\<rtivTty : One two-day writers' meeting will be coordinated for each booklet, during 

 which six writers for each of the two companion manuals will be invited to comment on and 

 modify a first draft of outlines prepared by Watercourse staff. Invited expen contnbutors will 

 include wetlands educators, managers, researchers, and curriculum developen from vanous 

 universities, agencies, and refuges, zll identified through a careful search. A consulting text 

 design artist will be asked to attend both meetings. 



C. QutEuj: This activity will produce two writers' meetings either at Watercourse 

 headquarters or in a more central location to prepare and revise drafts of the Wetlands Activity 

 Guide and the Wetlands Management Manual. 



D. Budget : (please see attached) 



