BLM chief seeks field studies for students

Benjamin Grove

Friday, May 22, 1998 | 10:09 a.m.

Bureau of Land Management director Pat Shea told the Las Vegas Sun Thursday that he wants to launch a program for high school student field studies at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Shea said he would like to create a field study competition, as early as next year, between Clark County High Schools science students. Students would develop environmental projects, such as how invasive weeds spread, Shea said.

The best project could net a school $2,000 to $3,000 in BLM prize money to be used for science equipment.

"There is nothing as inspiring as seeing 300 or 400 students clearing a trail and working outdoors," Shea said.

Shea said the students would gather valuable information for the BLM. The program also would introduce some inner-city students to Red Rock for the first time.

"If we can get more kids and people of all ages to appreciate the incredible natural beauty around them, then we will have a citizenry that is more informed about what should be done with their land," Shea said.

Classes from Clark County High Schools have studied for four years at Red Rock as part of Project Globe, a program launched by Vice President Al Gore. But there are no other formalized programs.

"Students can see a lot of correlations between their book learning and what they see in the real world," Red Rock environmental education specialist Kathy August said.

Teachers would welcome more Red Rock field study, Clark County Schools science curriculum director Gene Butler said.

"We don't have many opportunities for students to get out into the environment," Butler said. "Red Rock, because of its vicinity, is a perfect place for student study."