Relation of Wild Life to the Public 2>77 



be primarily limited to the particular park and to teaching apprecia- 

 tion of it. The conducting- of field parties is difficult work, recjuires 

 special training, both in subject-matter and method (Adams, 'lo, '21), 

 and is I believe destined to become one of the most important 

 methods of assisting the public. I believe that it is a great mistake 

 to assume that the public can grasp only the simplest facts and 

 relations, and that it is useless to- attempt to give the larger con- 

 ceptions. I do not think that this is true even of lectures, because 

 with proper accessories, slides, maps and models, much can be done. 

 Field excursions can often be planned to present the larger and 

 more striking conceptions to w^onderful advantage. Not enough 

 is made of these larger ideas, so that often the public feels that to 

 know the name of an animal, a plant, or a rock is all there is to 

 science, and is wholly unaware of the existence of the larger ideas 

 (cf. Adams, '10, pp. 119-121). I believe that adequate guide leaf- 

 lets, guides on the trails, and properly placed trails, will do as much 

 if not more for the intelligent appreciation of wild life and tlie 

 parks than any single method (cf. Mills, '20). 



Lecturing with pertinent slides, moving pictures and other appro- 

 priate equipment, can accomplish a great deal when large numbers 

 of people are concerned; but it can never take the place of the field 

 guide. The lecture is particularly suited to those spending very 

 limited time in our parks ; but those who camp, or who tour slowly 

 either by auto or on foot, have in the main other ideas and needs. 

 In the Palisades Interstate Park, Mr. P. M. Silloway conducted 

 field excursions for bird study (1918) and Prof. T. L. Hankinson 

 and I conducted similar excursions about the lakes and introduced 

 groups of boys to the wonders of animal life in the waters. We 

 all cooperated in laying out trails and marking them. The primary 

 emphasis was placed upon aiding people to get outdoors, observing, 

 thinking and enjoying themselves, because fundamentally it is 

 supervised nature work first, followed by the self-directed kind, which 

 leads to the best results in the long run. In the case of city visitors, 

 who do not know the country, and do not know what to do in a 

 strange place, they naturally gravitate back to and demand city 

 diversions, but under skilled leaders much progress can be made 

 toward getting them away from these deep-set habits (cf. Adams, 



'21). 



In the Yosemite National Park, Dr. H. C. Bryant began field 

 excursions and lectures, for both adults and children, in 1920, and 

 these have been keenly appreciated (cf. Tzvcnty-sixth Biennial 

 Report, Calif ornia FisJi and Game Commission, pp. 80-82, 1921). 



