Acknowledgements

4-H Earth Connections is a natural resources education program supported by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Connections to Our Earth, Leader’s Guide, and Activity Cards provide an introduction to the natural world for youth and adults. This curriculum was first published in the early 1980s.

Project Leaders

Paul Hlina, former 4-H Natural Resources educator
Jon Tulman, former Extension educator
Leslie Hyde, former Extension educator
Cindy Dunham, former co-director, Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center

Advisory Team

Donald Bruce, 4-H specialist
Frank Wertheim, Extension educator
Sylvia Simmons, 4-H leader
Joe Gray, 4-H leader
Cindy McCormack, 4-H leader

Contributors

Joseph Blotnick, director, Nature Quest
Carney McRae, Extension educator
Ray B. Owen, professor of Wildlife Resources
Gregory N. Brown, vice president for Research and Public Service
Catherine A. Elliott, wildlife and environmental education specialist
Jim Dunham, co-director, Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center
Marvin (Bud) Blumenstock, Forestry specialist
Jim Killacky, community development specialist
Amy Yackel, Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center counselor
Patrice Mutchnick, Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center counselor
Denise Dumachel, Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center counselor
Elizabeth (Beedy) Parker, 4-H leader
Julie O’Connor, support staff
Connie Adler, support staff
Lorna Blair, support staff
Paul Haggerty, support staff
Isabelle Samuelson, support staff

Artwork and Design

Pat Marcum
Tim Beal
Valerie Williams, graphic artist
Cindy Eves-Thomas, graphic artist

Editors (first edition)

Melanie J. Spencer, Publications editor
Devon Phillips, publications editor

Advisory Team (second edition)

Cindy Dunham, co-director, Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center
Robert Elliott, Extension Educator
Leslie Hyde, Extension educator
Bruce Ogilvie, Extension educator
Beth Parks, Extension educator

Editors (second edition)

Catherine A. Elliott, wildlife and environmental education specialist
Melanie Spencer, publications editor
Lisa Fitzgerald, support staff
Tracey Nelson, support staff

Contributors

Resources throughout the country were examined to compile this guide. We believe that the resulting material is the most exciting and stimulating natural resources education material to date. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the following contributors:
American Forest Council, Project Learning Tree, Washington, D.C.
Outdoor Biological Instructional Strategies, Delta Education, Nashua, NH
Central Wisconsin Environmental Station, WI
Jim Pease, author of Birds, Beasts, Bugs and Us, Iowa Cooperative Extension Service
Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center, Lincolnville, ME
Joseph Cornell, author of Sharing Nature with Children
William Chiat, author of The Web: A Guide to Environmental Education for Summer Camps
Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, “Exploring Natural Resources”
Stephen Carlson, author of I Can Teach in the Outdoors

The artwork included in the Leader’s Guide and on the activities was obtained from a number of sources that emphasized the breadth and scope of this cooperative project. We wish especially to thank: Tim Beal, Cindy Eves-Thomas, Pat Marcom, and Valerie Williams.