ECOSYSTEMS
All living and non-living components of an environment interact with one another to form an ecosystem.
•The earth is a living, changing system.
•Components of an ecosystem include sun, air, water, soil, plants, animals, etc.
•Everything is interrelated and dependent upon these relationships.
•Energy flows from one organism to another in a complex food web.
•Predator/prey relationships are an example of coexistence in a balanced ecosystem.
•Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. | TEAM BUILDING
Personal and social values guide actions that are a powerful force for positive change.
•Harmony comes from recognizing that similarities are greater than differences.
•Understanding and respecting others enables us to work together effectively as a community. Working cooperatively to accomplish goals promotes mutual support and benefit.
•Developing group interaction skills will improve our responses to future life situations. | | 
| PERSONAL GROWTH
Attitude and skills of individuals determine motivation and commitment to act.
•Dealing with the positive and negative aspects of emotions builds self esteem and confidence.
•Courage, trustworthiness and initiative are desirable personal qualities.
•Problem solving, decision making and risk assessment are skills which empower us to reach goals.
•A positive attitude improves situations.
•Challenges provide opportunities for learning and growth.
•Challenging perceived limits and reviewing goals improves our responses to future life situations.
•Quality individuals make a quality group. | OUTDOOR RECREATION
Lifelong participation in outdoor physical activities promotes a healthy relationship between people and the environment.
•We all have potential for physical activity and can improve our skills with patience and practice.
•Healthy exercise has value as a lifelong activity.
•Human powered sports promote healthy people and environment.
•Safety is an important consideration in any activity.
•Using physical skills allows us to reach remote natural areas and gain a sense of place.
• Outdoor experiences and behaviors help develop an outdoor ethic.
•Joy and fun are a vital component of a healthy, happy life.
•How we play today is how we live tomorrow. | | SUBJECT AREAS: • Animals
• Aquatics
• Earth Science
• Human Culture
• Outdoor Recreation
• Plants
• Personal Growth
• Team Building
| | NATURAL RESOURCES
The earth is essentially a closed system.
•The sun is the primary source of energy for life on earth.
•Matter is not created or destroyed.
•Non-renewable resources are finite and can not be replaced.
•Renewable resources must be used at a sus- tainable level to remain available.
•All the water on earth is all the water there is.
•There is no such place as "away." | | 
| NATURAL CYCLES
Every component of nature forms a cycle and is in constant change.
•Gases (02, CO2, air), minerals (N,Ca, Fe, rocks, soil) energy and life all change location and form in a predictable cyclic pattern.
•Together, the cycles in nature form a complex control mechanism for natural systems. | ECOLOGICAL ADAPTATIONS
All living things acquire physical and behavioral adaptations to be successful in their environment.
•Organisms change throughout their lifetimes; species change over long periods of time.
•Competition occurs among life forms in the same niche.
•Survival of the fittest results in natural selection and evolution of species.
•If you can imagine it, nature has already done it. | POPULATION ECOLOGY
Populations are limited to a density the environment can support by shortages of basic needs, and may be further reduced by other mortality factors.
•Life forms tend to reproduce in numbers greater than their habitat can support.
•The carrying capacity of a habitat is determined by availability of food, water, shelter, air and space.
•Extreme disease, predation, weather or habitat loss can reduce populations below carrying capacity. | | We want Wolf Ridge
to model behaviors which
promote a sustainable
lifestyle. | HUMAN CULTURE AND HISTORY
Humans and the environment are interrelated.
•The natural environment has many obvious and subtle impacts upon human history and culture.
•Natural beauty enhances the quality of human life.
•Different cultures hold varying beliefs on environmental issues.
•Art is an expression of human thoughts and feelings.
•Humans have a great ability to alter natural systems and a responsibility to consider the effects of our actions.
•Awareness, knowledge and appreciation lead to understanding of our impact.
•A growing human population is making increasing demands on natural resources.
•Waste and pollution are by-products of human society.
•Both poverty and affluence can cause environmental problems.
•Economic and political considerations have an influence on human actions.
•Sustainable technology and development must be appropriate to resources and equitable to people.
•Stewardship of the earth benefits humans as well as the environment. | BIODIVERSITY
A complex natural system is more stable than a simple one, and more able to absorb disturbances.
•Everything in nature has intrinsic value which may be beyond our understanding.
•There is life found in every possible niche (habitat and role) on earth.
•If a new niche becomes available, it will be filled by current life forms that will adapt to it.
•A rich habitat will support a greater number of species than a poor habitat.
•Those individuals or species with broad or flexible requirements are more able to adjust to environmental change.
•A food web is more stable than a food chain.
•Diversity is the key to stability. | |
