Classroom Investigations: Wilderness

Classroom Investigations: Wilderness

The activities in this guide prompt students to discuss what wilderness means to them, how it is defined in the law, and how Howard Zahniser defined it his seminal 1956 article “The Need for Wilderness Areas.” A close analysis of Zahniser’s article is the heart of the activity.  Students read key excerpts and draw comparisons among his thoughts about wilderness, how it is described in the law, and their own conceptions of wilderness. Students also describe why some lands are designated as wilderness areas and discuss the kinds of human activities that are prohibited there.