Because of increasing population and industrialization and decreasing supplies of natural resources, the need for sound conservation practices has become paramount, particularly within the last decade. In addition, the process of urbanization has limited the contacts large numbers of children have with the outdoors. Education must assume a leadership role in teaching children the wise use and careful management of remaining resources. To foster an appreciation for nature and the value of resources free from pollution and the destructive practices man has exercised in the past (such as indiscriminate deforestation and uncontrolled strip mining), schools should establish outdoor education programs. In addition to their conservation aims, outdoor education programs, conservation education programs, and school farm programs are especially useful in decreasing the number of dropouts interest of the slow or unmotivated learner. (DA)