Field Guides:

Suggestions for younger kids:

Peterson First Guide to Insects of North America by Roger Peterson, Richard White, and Christopher Leahy

Peterson First Guide to Birds of North America by Roger Tory Peterson

Peterson First Guide to Mammals of North America by Peter Alden and Richard Philip Grossenheider

Suggestions for older kids:

Reptiles and Amphibians:
Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians

Butterflies:
Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies

Wildflowers:
Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide — sadly out of print, but used copies are available online

Ecological science:
Eco-tracking: On the Trail of Habitat Change by Daniel Shaw. May be out of print, but usually available used online

Philosophy:

Here are some books for adults, books which helped shape our approach to Ecojustice Camp:

Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv, introduces the concept of “nature deficit disorder” and how contact with the natural world can help children’s mental health and healthy development.

Nature All Around Us: A Guide to Urban Ecology, ed. by Beatrix Beisner, Christian Messier, and Luc-Alain Giraldeau. In this guide, a team of ecologists help us learn about their scientific discipline through close observation of the urban ecosystem. Biodiversity in lawns, carrying capacity and geese, territory defense in squirrels, and more.

Acclimatizing: A Personal and Reflective Approach to a Natural Relationship by Steve Van Matre (Martinsville, Ind.: American Camping Assoc., 1974). A seminal guide to integrating ecological concepts into a camp program, the “Acclimatizing” program integrates outdoors education with personal growth.