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Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation AreaFinding your way is not always easy. But, wildlife biologists are studying the ways animals find their way in this urban mtn range.
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Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Park Labs:
Studies of Wildland Fire Ecology

Students use hands on science to gain an better understanding of fire's effects on the resources in the mountains.The Wildland Fire Ecology program is a high school curriculum-based program that allows students to observe and measure affects of wildfire in the chaparral community of the Santa Monica Mountains.

The program requires teachers to attend a training workshop. Afterwards their classes are provided equipment and training needed to conduct air, land, and water experiments at various park sites. These areas range from sites not burned in more than 50 years to sites recently burned.

Students will learn process skills used by resource management personnel. Creativity and problem solving abilities will be emphasized. They will also discover the importance of fire and its impact on natural
resources and their lives.

Two in-field visits are scheduled per class throughout the school year. Each lasts approximately 2.5 hours.

 

The Teachers manual contains:

Guidelines: lesson description, vocabulary, materials, and protocols.
Handouts: includes background information for lessons. Worksheet for that lesson.
Worksheets: classroom and fieldtrip

Click here to download the Wildland Fire Ecology Teachers' Manual now (PDF-2M).

 
The city of Los Angeles can be seen from many scenic view points in the Santa Monica Mountains.  

Did You Know?
Comprising 153,075 acres, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is the world's largest urban national park. It has more area codes (5) and zip codes (26), including the notable 90210 zip code of Beverly Hills, than any other unit in the National Park System.

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Last Updated: March 08, 2009 at 18:48 EST