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This practicum was designed to utilize local outdoor resources as a teaching tool and an extension of the classroom. The single goal was to make utilization of this instructional strategy a permanent part of the school curriculum. On-site research, coupled with an extensive review of current literature, produced the finding that the problem lay in the difficulty of implementing such an approach. An interdisciplinary program of environmental studies was chosen as the vehicle through which the situation that existed could be transformed to the desire outcome. The curriculum for this program was designed around the notion of utilizing local outdoor resources as both an extension of the classroom and a means to engage students actively in the learning process. The findings of the practicum were positive. Use of local outdoor resources was integrated successfully into the curriculum and proceeded to provide a uniquely successful instructional strategy. Since the results of this project were constructive, this model can be recommended to similar curricular applications. (Author/DB) *******************1.:************************************************ Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document