Outdoor Explorations for Early Learners: Aldo Leopold: “Father” of Wildlife Management

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Aldo Leopold: “Father” of Wildlife Management

“Like winds and sunsets, wild things were taken for granted until progress began to do away with them. Now we face the question whether a still higher "standard of living" is worth its cost in things natural, wild, and free.” ~Aldo Leopold

Iowa native Aldo Leopold is considered by many to be the “father” of wildlife management and of the United States wilderness system. Born in 1887 in Burlington, Iowa Leopold’s interest in nature started at an early age. He spent countless hours exploring his natural surroundings and recording his observations in journals and sketches. Leopold’s father was an avid outdoorsman and took his children hunting, fishing, exploring, and camping.

Leopold attended Yale Forest School graduating in 1909 and pursued a career with the U.S. Forest Service. Leopold also completed Iowa’s first statewide biological survey, and created the nation’s first Department of Wildlife Management at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Leopold was a conservationist, forester, philosopher, dedicated teacher, writer, and outdoor enthusiast. He was influential in the development of modern environmental ethics. Leopold's goal in his popular wildlife ecology course was "to teach the student to see the land, to understand what he sees, and enjoy what he understands."

Leopold’s powerful writings have made a significant contribution to modern views and values about wildlife and our natural resources. Leopold’s most popular writings, A Sand County Almanac: And Sketches Here and There, was first published in 1949 and remains in print today. It is a collection of essays written by Leopold describing the land around his home in Wisconsin. The essays are philosophical in nature and explore the relationship between people, land and wildlife. It was a call for a land ethic and written with the hope that readers would begin to treat the land with love and respect. A Sand County Almanac has had far reaching influence, over two million copies have been published and it has been translated into twelve languages.

Examples of Growing Up WILD and Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood activities that would go along with Aldo Leopold’s land and environmental ethics:

Growing Up WILD

Field Study Fun – Children investigate a field study plot to observe plant and animal interactions over time.

First Impressions – Children explore how they think and feel about animals.

Less is More – Children learn that using less is a way of sharing resources.

Who Lives in a Tree? – Children develop an awareness of trees and some of the animals that call them “home”.

Wildlife is Everywhere – Children make observations and understand that wildlife is all around us.

Wildlife Water Safari – Children discover water sources for local wildlife and create a field notebook.

Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood
Bursting Buds – Children explore the signs of spring.

Evergreens in Winter – Children use their senses to experience winter.

Get in Touch with Trees – Children explore trees using their sense of touch.

Signs of Fall – Children explore the signs of autumn in nature.

Sounds Around – Children explore the sounds of nature.