Explore a wide range of supplemental educational resources from the Aldo Leopold Foundation and our collaborative partners. Each resource embodies and reinforces the importance of a land ethic, helping learners to develop a sense of community with the natural world.
The Leopold Education Project (LEP) is an enriching curriculum that draws inspiration from Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac, available nationwide through our network of State Coordinators. Designed to engage an audience of all ages, LEP nurtures ecological literacy and a deep respect for nature. It aims to disseminate a land ethic, enhance appreciation for nature, deepen scientific knowledge of ecological processes, and foster critical thinking through interactive activities. Through a blend of arts and sciences, the curriculum equips learners with observational, stewardship, and reflective skills. LEP provides a practical and affordable way for educators to weave Aldo’s timeless environmental principles into their teaching.
"Keeping records enhances the pleasure of the search and the chance of finding order and meaning in these events."
Phenology is the study of annual events in nature that are influenced by seasonal changes such as climate and weather. At a young age, Aldo Leopold began keeping phenology records at his childhood home in Burlington, Iowa. After purchasing the Shack in 1935, the entire Leopold family took part in weekend phenology observations. The data collected by the Leopold family along with other natural resource professionals around the state have allowed scientists and community members to track seasonal and climatic changes in Wisconsin for nearly 90 years.
Today, the staff at the Aldo Leopold Foundation maintains the Leopold family tradition of yearly record keeping, including the publication of the annual Phenology Calendar. Various dates throughout the month indicate when certain phenological events may begin to occur. Each month of the calendar also features beautiful images of animals, plants, and insects with corresponding sidebars written by Dr. Stanley Temple.
Delve into your creative potential and expand your understanding of a land ethic through writing. Whether you're a seasoned wordsmith, a student, or just a passionate conservationist, these programs offer unique platforms to express and explore your thoughts and ideas. In the world of ecological writing, your words can contribute to a deeper understanding and appreciation of our relationship with the land.
The Aldo and Estella Leopold writer-in-residence program at Mi Casita is sponsored by the Leopold Writing Program in New Mexico, the Aldo Leopold Foundation, and the U.S. Forest Service. An inspiring retreat for writers, thinkers, and artists, the program invites participants to reflect on and write about the relevance of Aldo’s ideas to 21st-century social and environmental issues.
Presented with our close partner, the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, the Wisconsin Aldo Leopold Writing Contest encourages students to participate in the evolution of Leopold’s vision for “land as a community to which we belong” through the written word.
Why Hunt? explores the ecological, economic, and social benefits of hunting through the lens of conservation. The publication’s primary goals are to create a greater awareness of hunting’s role in conservation and serve as a resource for new hunters beginning the activity. A publication of the Aldo Leopold Foundation with support from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bast Durbin Advertising, and several other conservation organizations and businesses, this guide is a must-read for anyone who is interested in conservation.
The Aldo Leopold Foundation was founded in 1982 with a mission to foster the land ethic through the legacy of Aldo Leopold, awakening an ecological conscience in people throughout the world.
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