Full Episode Archives - Page 3 of 7

As our demand for resources grows, our output of waste rises ... Follow our young ITO leaders as they unearth all that goes into landfills and explore waste resource management. Together, we shall follow the waste management hierarchy and discover pathways to become stewards of sustainability.

In this Into the Outdoors episode, we’re taking you to South Dakota to learn about how wetland habitats are being protected on both public and private lands. Join Into the Outdoors Adventure Team members Zach and Gracie as they tag along on a youth duck hunt to see first-hand how hunting supports conservation efforts. Surprised? We’re just getting started! Come along as we learn more about our nation's wetlands and how we can bring conservation into our own backyards.

There are heroes out there. You may not recognize them, hiding in the trees, but they are there. Agents doing their job with skill and strength, wielding the most advanced technology, fighting disease and pestilence, managing our resources for the service of humanity. They are the Heroes of the Forest.

Trees and forests provide so much for us: places of beauty and recreation, shade for our homes, wood products like paper and building materials, habitats for animals, clean air, and more. It’s important that they are managed sustainably, which means caring for them so they will be healthy and provide resources for future generations.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources collaborates with a vast network of professionals who manage the ecological, economic, social, and cultural well-being of our forests. This episode explores the variety of careers in the field of Forestry, from silviculturists to data analysts, fire fighters to GIS specialists. Students are introduced to opportunities and programs that provide training and pathways to diverse careers. The technology used for forest management and wood-product manufacturing is showcased. The importance of diversity in the field is emphasized, showing that individuals from all backgrounds and communities should have a voice and participate in the care of our natural resources.

Join Into the Outdoors Adventure Team members, Charlie and Lucas, as they embark on a special mission to meet and recruit Heroes of the Forest.

Join us in this episode of Into the Outdoors episode, we learn about vessels! What are they? How can they be safely operated?

Being out on the water is a great way to get into the outdoors. And learning to be out there safely can be half the fun. Watch as the Into the Outdoors Adventure Team members Phoebe and Zack head to Sheboygan, WI, to talk to the US Coast Guard and other boat safety experts. Join them as they embark on an adventure to discover the ins and outs of operating a vessel.

Find links to the Into the Outdoors @Home topic videos. These custom learning videos are designed to share with your entire classroom. you'll also find other educational content, including custom lesson activities that blend peer-driven learning and hands-on activities.

In this Into the Outdoors episode, we learn about fishing with a spincaster, boater safety, and how to catch a fish like a pro. Watch as Into the Outdoors Adventure Team members Solomon and Gracie work through everything you need to know to get started as they spend a day on the water. Come along for the fishing adventure and the fun! Are you ready?

Find links to the Into the Outdoors @Home topic videos below. These custom learning videos are designed to share with your entire classroom. You’ll also find other educational content, including custom lesson activities that blend peer-driven learning and hands-on activities.

The information in our video and on this page was made possible by our educational partners.

In this Into the Outdoors episode, we learn about fishing with cane poles, the basics of different bait types, and safety tips for when fishing around a body of water. Join Into the Outdoors Adventure Team member Ben and his friends Ashten, Lucy, and Antonio as they head Into the Outdoors for a day of fishing with friends.

The information in our video and on this page was made possible by our educational partners.

Join us in this Into the Outdoors episode as we welcome the elk back to Wisconsin! But wait...maybe you didn’t even know they left?

Elk were completely eliminated in Wisconsin for over 130 years due to unregulated hunting and loss of habitat, but in recent years, restoration programs, conservation groups and Native tribes have worked together to successfully reintroduce elk to wilderness areas where they once roamed.

Watch as Adventure Team members Zach and Aubrey investigate what makes these animals important to the Ojibwe tribes, and how conservation, treaty rights and public lands played a role in their return.

In this Into the Outdoors episode and related Into the Outdoors @Home topic videos, we learn how and why the Ojibwe tribes worked so hard to bring the elk back to Wisconsin. We also learn about Native American Treaty Rights and their impact on the elk reintroduction.

The information in our video and on this page was made possible by our educational partners.

If you found an injured wild animal, what would you do? There are many myths and misinformation about how to rescue animals, and doing the wrong thing can add stress or make the situation worse. The best thing to do is to contact a professional wildlife rehabilitator.

In this episode, Into the Outdoors Adventure Team members, Zach and Sophie come across an injured young bird. Professional rehabilitators from Fellow Mortals Wildlife Hospital in Lake Geneva, WI, help them sort through the “dos and don’ts” of wildlife rescue: when to leave it alone, how to contain it, keep it warm and seek additional care.

Students will also learn about career and volunteer pathways in wildlife rehabilitation through interviews with Fellow Mortals staff. Wildlife rehabilitators offer medical care to animals, like veterinarians do, but they see hundreds of different species! They care for the animals 24-7, which might include hand-feeding and regular cleaning, until the animals are ready to be released back into the wild.

Zach and Sophie celebrate how compassion prompted them to act as "Wildlife First Responders" and seek care, which ultimately saves the bird’s life. They share additional information on how we all can help prevent injuries or orphaning of wild animals.

So what exactly is this "sustainability" stuff? Discover the answers by watching the four parts of this science show and reading the information below. And to take this learning adventure into your classroom, have your teacher download the free Lesson Guide at the bottom of this page so everyone can share in the fun of this inquiry based learning.

By definition, it's maintaining the conditions where humans and nature can coexist in productive harmony, that also fulfills the social, economic and environmental requirements of present and future generations of humans. In short, it means giving back as much as possible compared to what we take out of the environment. Or, more simply, sustainability is the capacity to endure. But hold on... we also need to consider what species to include when we think about the term "capacity to endure".

Another way to look at how sustainability works is through Einstein’s Law of thermodynamics as it relates to the basic laws of nature and physics. You see, Einstein knew that matter can be converted into energy and energy converted into matter. An important concept there is that ENERGY can neither be created nor destroyed. That's because it can only change form. Just think about a closed ecosystem that’s self-sustaining. We can’t see anything entering or leaving the ecosystem, but it keeps sustaining all the things that live there. So if you look closely enough, you can see examples of how Einstein's law of thermodynamics works in sustainability.

In recent years, more scientists and environmentalists have expanded the study of sustainability into a whole new realm of scientific study. In fact, thousands of new programs and initiatives now focus on sustainability, in hopes of minimizing our consumptive impacts on the planet - you know, minimizing our footprint. To get some ideas on what and how sustainability can really work to make a difference, watch the four segments of this ITO episode. Then consider how you might apply what you've learned into your life at home or work to make a difference in our planet. Also take a moment to explore the pages and videos on the various resource links noted below. Explore all these websites and you'll almost become a "sustainability wizard".

Plus, the educational partner noted below supported the video content here for all of us to learn from. They also offer other learning opportunities on their website. Educators are encouraged to evaluate and consider their science sources. So click on their logo to discover more!

Click on the image below to see or print a clearer version of our Planet's sustainability

Did you know that soybeans are actually native to Asia, where they’ve been grown and eaten for over 5000 years? Discover this and more by watching the four Parts of Soybean Science from the Into the Outdoors episode reveal the scientific and technological impact of soybeans on agriculture and industry. It explores how properties in the legume seed can be converted into a wide variety of products used in industry and its impact on society. The free companion classroom Discussion Guide at the bottom of this page let's everyone learn together, so have your teacher download it.

Soybeans finally made their way to America in the late 1700s when sailors loaded the lower compartment of ships with heavy bags of soybeans. The soybeans were cheap and helped stabilize the ship on rough seas. Once ships arrived in America, they offloaded the soybeans, loaded new cargo and then set sail back out on the high seas. By the 1800s, American farmers began growing soy and some even started making soy sauce out of them. But it took one very special American chemist to help people realize the amazing secrets of soy. His name was George Washington Carver.

George Washington Carver developed ideas about crop rotation that were based on the idea that plants need certain vital nutrients to grow, like nitrogen, which they get from the soil. There’s a limited amount of nitrogen in the soil. Once the plants use it up, it needs to be replenished in the soil, and that’s where soybeans save the day. Unlike most plants that only take nitrogen from the soil, legumes can convert nitrogen from the air into nitrogen in the soil. The process is called "nitrogen fixation" and is just one of the science subjects covered in this video and classroom lesson guide series.

Plus, the educational partner noted below supported the video and companion lesson content here for all of us to learn from. They also offer other learning opportunities on their website. Educators are encouraged to evaluate and consider their science sources. Click on their logo to discover more!