The California Water Science Center (CAWSC) is one of 48 water science centers in the water resources discipline of the United States Geological Survey. Their mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate the impartial hydrologic data and information needed to wisely manage water resources for the people of the United States and the State of California. On their website, visitors can look over...

Reaching out to a volcano can be a precarious enterprise. Reaching out to teach young people about volcanoes and related geological matters is less precarious, particularly after discovering this site. Created by staff members at the United States Geological Survey's Cascades Volcano Observatory, this site brings together educational materials such as short videos, printable posters, and fact...

The Energy and Minerals Mission Area of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) "conducts research and assessments on the location, quantity, and quality of material and energy resources, including the economic and environmental effects of resource extraction and use." Visitors to the site can click on thematic sections such as Energy Resources and Mineral Resources. Each of these areas...

The USGS's "National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) offers environmental analytical services, including inorganic, organic, and radiochemical constituents, and provides high-quality, reproducible data." Researchers can find a summary of the Laboratory's capabilities, facilities, technology, areas of expertise, and accreditations and certificates. The website offers a Microsoft PowerPoint...

Readers interested in the natural sciences may like to explore the online home of the United States Geological Survey's Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (WARC). Based in the southeastern U.S., WARC was formed in 2015 through the merger of two science centers, the National Wetlands Research Center in Louisiana and the Southeast Ecological Science Center in Florida. Here, readers can access a...

Doing field labs in geology can be quite a rewarding experience, and this helpful educational resource is something that can be used by a wide range of science educators. Created by Professor Kim Hannula of Fort Lewis College, this resource is designed to help teachers incorporate writing into the description and interpretation sections of a geologic report. Visitors to the site can find a set of...

From Arches National Park to the towering cliffs at Castle Rock Campground, Utah has some remarkable geology on display. The Utah Geological Survey decided to draw on these fantastic "outdoor laboratories" and create a set of resources designed for science educators. While some of the resources are geared towards users in Utah, many of the sections contain helpful overviews that will help all...

What was going on in Utah 500 million years ago? Quite a bit, and this website provides an excellent overview of the diverse Cambrian life that flourished in an ancient sea that covered what is now the Beehive State. Interestingly enough, the website was created by the division of invertebrate paleontology at the University of Kansas Natural History Museum, and it includes images of a wide array...

There is no true substitute for visiting one of America's great national parks, but this website, designed "to present the natural, cultural, and historical resources of our national parks," is a nice surrogate for an in-person jaunt. On the homepage, visitors can select a park or theme from several dozen headings, including National Mall, Whiskeytown, Glaciers, and Devils Tower. Within each area,...

State extension programs are a great way for interested parties to learn about everything from community development to integrated pest management. These publications from the Virginia Cooperative Extension cover these topics, and dozens more. Most of the papers here are available in one or more formats, and along with more practical publications, there are a few that may inspire a new hobby or...