If your phone died, how would you navigate to your destination? We can't always rely on phones and GPS to help us get to where we are going, that's why it is important to know how to use a compass, especially when out on open water. Dive in with us as we learn the science of magnetism, the difference between True North and Magnetic North, as well as how to use a compass in a real life scenario!

To be a responsible boater, you need to consider all aspects of your impact on the water, whether it’s in relation to another boater or to the environment itself. You may not realize it, but boaters, and other water recreation activities, have an impact on aquatic ecosystems. From nonpoint source pollution to shoreline erosion caused by wakes, our educational guides explain many ways in which boats have a negative impact on the waterways. As responsible boaters, it is important to keep these ecosystems healthy for future generations to enjoy, so join us in learning how boaters can take a variety of actions to minimize their negative environmental impact while boating.

Boating safety courses are essential for teaching new boaters about the rules of the waterway and how to safely operate a boat, but there are some "unspoken rules" that all members of the boating community should know. From environmental responsibility to helping out your fellow boaters in need, responsible boating involves a lot more than just safety. Boating etiquette is something that is often learned through experience rather than in a classroom, so tag along with Captain Doug and his granddaughter as they head out on the Lake of the Ozarks to learn about proper boating etiquette.

For hundreds of years, people have used waterways as a means of transportation. As our vessels grew from small canoes to large barges and other industrial traffic, we altered the rivers to better suit our needs. This evolution of transportation has changed riverway structure and aquatic ecosystems, but how? In this classroom video, we take a deeper look at how rivers, wildlife and the environment are impacted by the rise of waterway navigation. 

For hundreds of years, the waterways of the United States have been utilized as a means of transportation. From historical navigation tools and methods used by Native Americans to modern instruments used to navigate our waterways today, we set out to learn how our relationship with the waterways has evolved. With the construction of levees, locks and dams, the structure of the river has changed to become more navigable, but this also means boaters must be equipped with the knowledge of how to navigate these potential obstacles. As our technology and methods have improved, our navigation knowledge must develop as well. Join us as we learn about the history of nautical navigation, from past to present, and how to safely navigate our waterways. 

What’s the one tiny creature that feeds one of the biggest food webs in North America, including whales?

In this video and lesson, you'll discover these answers and more as you “decode” the biotic and abiotic energy flows and related lifeforms in the Tongass National Forest ecosystems… and how our National Forests play a vital role in keeping Planet Earth healthy.

 

It’s a fact; everything we do in life has challenges versus benefits… even fishing.

So why would you try to catch a fish using one of the oldest and hardest to master methods of angling?

Discover why some kids and their families use fly-looking lures made from feathers tied to hook when “flyfishing”.

In this video and lesson, you’ll learn about the physics, history, and aquatic ecosystem science of one the oldest documented methods of catching fish that can be traced back to Roman times, 2000 years ago.

Discover how a kid, his dad and grandpa use one of the oldest methods of fishing to catch 30 fish in a half hour in Alaska, America’s Last Frontier.

Besides sharing the family fun, this show reveals ecosystem science, aquatic biology, history and a first-hand look at the wildlife wonders in our nation’s largest National Forest.

In this peer-driven lesson, students will learn how to research and evaluate where to find angling opportunities in National Forests. They will also develop a “Investment versus Rewards” presentation for classroom debate on the short-term and lasting personal rewards of angling in America’s National Forests.

In this Into the Outdoors episode, join in the adventure, fun, discovery and the making of lasting memories as you watch two families on four different family fishing adventures in our National Forests. Besides fighting fish and remarkable wilderness