I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Introduction to Parks & Interpretation

2. Course Prefix & Number:
NATR 2201

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 2

Lecture Hours: 1

Lab Hours: 2

4. Course Description:

This is a holistic course on the importance of parks and outdoor recreation. It will discuss the basic areas of management such as natural resources, people, facilities, law enforcement, and finances. It will also touch on topics such as the foundation of outdoor recreation, psychology and the natural environment, the social aspects and economics of outdoor pursuits, and federal, state and local management policies and agencies. The course will also cover various curricula available for the naturalist (Project Wild, Project Wild Aquatic, Project Learning Tree, and Nature Scope). The class will visit or have a presentation by local park managers to see and discuss how they are used by the public. The student will prepare and teach selected topics with the class and with elementary students in the area.

5. Placement Tests Required:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

2. Transfer - regional institutions with which this course has a written articulation agreement:

Name of Institution	Date of Acceptance	Discipline/Area/Program of Transfer
University of Minnesota Crookston	March 2010	Natural Resources Management
University of Wisconsin Steven’s Point	2007-2009	Natural Resources Management

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

Natural Resources Technology, AAS

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate oral communication skills	Give oral presentations to elementary and middle-school classes, and the general public.
Demonstrate interpersonal communication skills	Work in groups to present select environmental education programs (Project Wild, Leopold Education Project, etc.) to various local school groups.
Work as a team member to achieve shared goals	Present selected environmental education activities in groups for select local events; e.g., Earth Day and Arbor Day celebrations.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Present select environmental education curriculum, including Project Wild, Pheasants Forever Leopold Education Project, and MinnAqua.
• Engage in select natural resource-related events using the skills attained.
• Provide environmental learning opportunities to local elementary and middle-school students and gain service-learning experience.
• Become certified in Project Wild, Flying Wild, and Project Wild Minnesota, and in Pheasants Forever Leopold Education Project.
• Describe the MNDNR state park system.
• Develop natural resource-related lesson plans and present them.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Introduction to Parks and Interpretation
• History of Parks and Interpretation in US
• Research on Important Persons in MN History
2. Outdoor Education in MN and its decline
• Nature-deficit disorder and Last Child Left in the Woods
3. National Parks
• Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
4. Minnesota State Parks
• Crow Wing State Park
• Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
5. Project Wild, Flying Wild, and Project Wild Minnesota
6. Project MinnAqua
7. Project Learning Tree and NaturScope
8. What is Interpretation?

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions

1. Project Wild, Flying Wild and Project Wild Minnesota Certification Day
• Brainerd Parks and Recreation Arbor Day
2. Minnesota State Parks Powerpoint Presentation
• Mille Lacs Kathio Day
3. State of Minnesota Research Paper
4. What is Interpretation? Research Paper
5. MinnAqua Certification Day
6. Pheasants Forever Leopold Education Project Certification
7. Last Child in the Woods Research Paper