OCR Text |
Show Education in Our National Parks NATIONAL parks are becoming the educational recreational centers of the nation. Tbey are In effect field laboratories for nature study and playgrounds for lovers of the outdoors. Some of the parks, as for Instance Yellowstone, constitute Inspiring geophysical laboratories lab-oratories where scientists and students saay study geyser formations and the processes of erosion ; In others are museums containing permanent botanical bo-tanical and etiological exhibits. Many Diversities allow credits for field extension ex-tension work undertaken in the parks fey their students. In Yoseuilte an Interesting In-teresting development of the nature study Idea Is found. A nature guide service was started five years ago with private funds but has gradually been taken over by the government These guides take the tourists on field lecture trips and deliver cauipflre talks at the large hotels and camps. The Yosemlte Field School of Natural History this year will offer courses In nature study of university grade. Practically all forms of healthful recreation depending upon the outsiders out-siders for their enjoymuit are afforded in national parks under surroundings of scenic grandeur that cannot be surpassed anywhere else on the continent conti-nent One of the state associations of the American Legion has undertaken to develop a camping ground In the Rocky Mountain National park in Colorado. Colo-rado. Through the efforts of the President's recreational council more people than ever are using these facilities facili-ties to their great physical and mental benefit The 19 national parks and 31 national monuments under the Jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior were visited by 1,000,000 persons per-sons last season. Congress appropriated $7,500,000 for a three-year road program. It Is really a reconstruction program for the Improvement of national park ronds originally built for horse-drawn vehicles but now too narrow for safe automobile truffle. Once these park roads are Improved they will complete in many Instances a chain of stau imd national highways which will en utile the tourists to go from purk to park iu the West in k&frty ,ml comfort. |