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Show An Intensive Course in Natural History in the National Parks Ey STEPHEN T. MATHER, Director, National Park Service. 7 ATURE study has a universal appeal, even when carried on jj Yy only through the medium of hooks. The opportunities afforded J! Yj- in the national parks for such study among nature's own chosen conditions brought about a constantly increasing demand for intelligent in-telligent interpretation of the various natural features in Telation to their surroundings. Visitors to the national parks want to understand more not only about the rock formations and the geologic history of the particular par-ticular area in question, but about the trees, flowers, birds, and mammals, mam-mals, and the Indians who are inseparably connected with the historic atmosphere of the region. In fact, everything that is preserved in its natural state in the national parks is an object of intense interest to visitors, and a ready subject for study and explanation. Recognizing this consistent demand, I have endeavored for the past six years gradually to develop opportunities in the parks for students and visitors, by direct contact with the handiwork of nature, to take an intensive in-tensive course in natural history, and during the past year the results have been particularly gratifying. Biologists, geologists, and other scientists, with their classes, have enthusiastically made use of the opportunities for research and investigation investiga-tion afforded in the national parks. Now, however, our efforts are directed di-rected toward making it practicable for the average visitor to the park without much time at his disposal for personal research work or without the necessary scientific background to work things out for himself to acquire ac-quire a practical knowledge of the natural history and the other exhibits of natural phenomena. |