Leopold Education Project

The Leopold Education Project (LEP) is an environmental education program based on the classic writings of the renowned conservationist, Aldo Leopold. The LEP curriculum aligns with the essays in A Sand County Almanac as a springboard for observing the natural world, to instill a love and respect for the land and all that inhabit the land and to protect the earth's natural resources.

LEP has developed a proven curriculum (Lessons in a Land Ethic) that "fosters a positive relationship between our younger generations and the soil, water, plants and animals" - or what Leopold simply called - the land. His objective was to "teach the students to see the land, understand what he sees and enjoy what he understands".

The seed for LEP was planted in 1971 when Gary Laib, a conservation and biology teacher at Poynette High School in Wisconsin, integrated Leopold's A Sand County Almanac with his science classes. In 1980, he developed 100+ starter lessons to coincide with the essays from the ASCA. Seven years later, Laib was contacted by two conservation-conscious men from Woodstock, IL, who felt Leopold's writings would serve as an excellent tool for developing an improved land ethic.

In 1988, 10,000 copies of A Sand County Almanac were purchased and distributed to various organizations and individuals. The following year, LEP training workshops were conducted in Wisconsin. With support from the Leopold family, the workshop was made available for the 1990 Earth Day celebration.

Mission: The mission of the Leopold Education Project is to create an ecologically literate citizenry so that each individual might develop a personal land ethic

Introduction:
Aldo Leopold foresaw and articulated one of the largest problems facing humankind - how do we maintain a sense of connection to the natural systems that support us? The pace and magnitude of urbanization and other changes in our society are increasingly disconnecting us from the land.