Environment
There is a mountain of resources and sources of information out there for environmental issues. This list was compiled by Helen Percy. It was originally used at the Leaders training session at the Gleed School on 1st March 2008. If you have any questions (or know of other good resources please do contact Helen Percy.
Identification of Organisms
Field Studies Council - run courses (often residential) and have many publications, especially for identifying plants and animals. The garden birds, minibeasts and clouds fold out charts maybe particularly helpful.
http://www.field-studies-council.org/publications/foldout.aspx
FSC Publications, The Annexe, Preston Montford Lane, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 1DU
Tel: 0845 3454072 (Local rate phone call - UK only) 01743 852140 Fax: 01743 852141
Email: publications@field-studies-council.org
Usbourne Spotters Guides
Series of identification guides to many creatures. Child friendly and about £4 each so won’t break the bank!
http://www.usbornebooksathome.co.uk/catalogue/browse.asp?css=1
Activity Books/ Packs
Grasshoppers and Other Green Things
Kent Wildlife Trust £14.99 + £5.00 p&p
Tel: (01622) 662012 Fax (01622) 671390
Written for KS1 and good for that level but many resources suitable for teenagers as well!
The Aliens are Coming: Plant Life and the Greenhouse Effect
Phil Gates
Puffin Books
Blue Peter meets serious Science. A great resource.
Minibeast Magic: Kind hearted capture techniques for invertebrates
Roma Oxford
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust £4:50
http://www.ywt.org.uk/publications.htm
Includes instructions on how to make a pooter and ways to see minibeasts close up.
Sharing Nature with Children (vols 1 and 2)
Joseph Cornell
£7.99 each
The original source of many environmental games and activities which help people explore nature. These books are American and I would recommend being careful with the risk assessments for some activities. However, there are many great activities and games and much to recommend the books.
Contact deep books for ordering information in UK
http://www.deep-books.co.uk/search_results.asp?search=sharing%20nature%20with%20children#
Websites
Nature Detectives
Set up by the Woodland Trust; loads of good resources for free but also club to join with stickers, challenges, etc, £15 per year (for a group) but with activity sheets, posters, etc, as well as weekly challenges. Games for children to play online. Sections for Do (activities), Create (crafts), Recipes, Find (things to look for) which are all likely to be helpful in a Guiding context.
Site particularly good for phenology, the study of organisms and seasons.
http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk
Also a site for teachers/ learning. Many of these resources will also be helpful for Leaders. http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/learningtree
Nature’s Calendar
Aimed at adults and teenagers. Lots of information about first sightings of the year etc. Site produced by the Woodland Trust.
http://www.naturescalendar.org.uk/
Wildlife Watch
The junior branch of the Wildlife Trusts. Online activities and information. Site aimed at children.
http://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/
RSPB
A good resource with information for children and young people. Includes section for make and do where the recipe for speedy bird cake comes from.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/youth/index.asp
British Beekeepers Association
Not much information about pollination unfortunately, but some nice recipes and ideas linked to bees which may be helpful.
http://www.bbka.org.uk/bees4kids/index.html
42 Explore
An American website that has lots of information on it. There is a section about bees with a very comprehensive reference section. Some of the reference websites include things to make and do. Ignore any references to killer bees. There are no killer bees (which came about due to genetic experiments!) in the UK.
http://www.42explore.com/bees.htm
Weather Wiz Kids
Child friendly site with information and activities about clouds and weather, including ways to identify different types of clouds.
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/cloud.htm
Young People’s Trust for the Environment
Information on a wide range of environmental issues. Includes fact sheets on everything from animal rights and acid rain to wildlife gardens.
http://www.ypte.org.uk/
Atmosphere, Climate & Environment Information Programme
Information provided on the causes, effects of and control on air pollution and climate change.
Site for over 11 year olds http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/
Site for 5 - 11 year olds http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/kids/
Climate Choices – Children’s Voices
Website aimed at teachers of children aged 9-11 who want to help chidren begin to understand climate change. Information on variety of aspects of climate change including food miles.
Also includes water usage calculator.
http://www.climatechoices.org.uk/index.htm
Recycle Now
Pages about how to recycle, what happens to things once they’ve been separated for recycling. This is the main website that councils link into.
http://www.recyclenow.com/
Includes microsite about home composting
http://www.recyclenow.com/home_composting/
Farmers’ Markets
Includes a locator to find your nearest market.
http://www.farmersmarkets.net/findafmkt.htm
Quaker Green Action
Many Quakers are concerned about environmental issues. This is their website http://www.quakergreenaction.org.uk.
Includes a booklet packed full of good ideas on how to reduce your impact on the environment.
http://www.quakergreenaction.org.uk/home_files/wcsl.pdf
Additional helpful websites are:
Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust - www.lincstrust.org.uk/events/index.php
Woodland Trust - www.naturedetectives.org.uk
International Fund for Animal Welfare - www.ifaw.org/splash.php
Centre for Alternative Technology - www.cat.org.uk
BCTW - http://www2.btcv.org.uk/
Lincolnshire Young Environmentalists award - www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk
Woodland Trust – Tree For All - www.treeforall.org.uk
Lincoln RSPB - www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/
