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<< Environmental education is rapidly becoming an integral part of geography and science classes in an effort to preserve the pristine nature of our public lands. Photograph by James Sugar/Corbis Images

Take Action! Become a steward of the land by taking a journey through America's Backyard. Explore the beauty and wonder of our public lands and take part in preserving this legacy for future generations.

What is a steward?
Being a steward to land is like being its parent. It's about taking care of the land by protecting its resources, including wildlife, timber, soil, water, and natural beauty. Stewardship is about making a commitment to the land that helps preserve it for today and tomorrow.

Why should you become a steward of public lands? Everyone—including you—owns our public lands! Public lands cover approximately one-third of the United States. Stewards take pride in this ownership and understand the cultural and natural resources that these lands offer. As a steward of the land, you can enhance the ecological well-being of all public lands and help provide society with a healthier environment.

Any land that is not privately owned is considered public land and belongs to all of us. Some of these properties are famous, such as Yellowstone National Park or the Grand Canyon. However, there are many more not-so-famous places that are just as important to preserve and protect. There are probably even some in your neighborhood.

Don't wait until it's too late. Take action now to improve water quality, beautify natural landscapes, maintain wilderness, and protect endangered species. Check out the zip code finder in MapMachine to find a park in your neighborhood, and consider ways to become a steward in your own community.

There are lots of ways to take on the challenge of stewardship!

Younger Xpeditioners: Create a bumper sticker (use adhesive-backed paper) that highlights a local public property. Decorate your bumper sticker with a border, a catchy slogan, photographs, or drawings. Distribute the bumper stickers to your relatives and classmates.

Older Xpeditioners: Interview older people in your community to hear their stories about how landscapes in your area have changed. Ask them about what the landscape was like when they were younger and how the building and razing of structures and roads has changed the lives of those in the community. Record your interview and share it with friends, classmates, or conservation groups.

Parents: Plan a vacation for your family to explore one or more public lands. Identify the states where your vacation will take you. Use a road map to highlight the best driving route. Determine the total miles of the trip and calculate how much time it will take. Research each of the places you plan to visit and decide what activities your family can do. Produce an itinerary, including popular or scenic hiking trails, special ranger programs, roadside exhibits, visitor centers, lectures, demonstrations, and museums. Keep track of locations, times, reservation numbers, fees, and safety tips.