A wide diversity of interesting plant and animal life can be observed and studied at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, the last sizeable example of the swampland which once covered millions of acres in the area. Many of the species here, such as the swamp rabbit, are rare elsewhere in the state. The refuge's archaeological and historical resources are equally diverse. Mingo's original purpose was to provide a resting and wintering area for waterfowl. Today educational experiences are also provided on the refuge. School groups are offered two types of activities--self-guided tours and planned field activities. For the tours, refuge personnel provide a short orientation talk to the class and go over the route to be taken with the teacher. For the planned field activities, lesson plans are provided. Refuge staff will sometimes be able to assist in conducting these activities. This handbook includes examples of the lesson plans. Topics covered are: observation and perception, habitat investigation (energy cycle), basic measuring, rural life and the Depression, compass use, contour mapping, creative writing and nature, art and nature, cemetery study, land use study (pioneer homestead), aquatic biology, transect study, soils and erosion, observing and classifying trees, and creative communication using nature as a stimulus. (NQ)