Education

The IRRC’s primary function is to create engaging educational materials to improve the public’s understanding of the balanced, responsible management of Idaho’s public and private rangelands. Scientifically-based educational materials are created for a target audience of K-12 teachers and students in traditional and non-traditional settings.

General science textbooks teach Idaho students more about rainforest ecosystems in Central America than rangeland ecosystems in Idaho and the Intermountain West. The IRRC has developed a series of rangeland student activities and rangeland curriculum for K-12 teachers and students. Be sure to register online so you can order or download educational materials.

IRRC distributes a 4th grade Idaho history booklet called "Rangeland—Idaho’s Roots." IRRC provides these free booklets to thousands of children each year as part of the curriculum. Click here to order the history booklets.

The IRRC hosts and participates in a number of teacher workshops each year so Idaho teachers can learn about the ecology, history and management of Idaho's rangelands. Check our events calendar to see the dates of teacher workshops and how to sign up.

Understanding the place in which we live will result in better decisions about how to care for the land. In focusing on learning about this complex ecosystem, the IRRC in cooperation with the University of Idaho developed a "Rangeland Assessment Kit" for secondary science classrooms to collect relevant rangeland data.

The IRRC sponsors Idaho FFA Rangeland Assessment Career Development Events each year. These are opportunities for students to learn about rangeland ecosystems, native and non-native plants, shrubs, forbs and more in the field -- skills that will help them prepare for a career in rangeland management. FFA teams from Rigby, Kuna, West Jefferson, Hagerman and Gooding finished in the top 5 in 2011.