Free Educational Resources About Bears Ears Region Available Publications And Digital Content

The provided source material does not contain information about free samples of Bears Ears books in the traditional marketing sense of product samples or promotional offers. However, it does describe educational resources related to the Bears Ears region that are freely accessible to the public. This article provides factual information about these resources based exclusively on the provided source material.

Available Free Educational Resources

The source material describes two primary resources related to Bears Ears that are available to the public:

1. A downloadable plant booklet titled "Bears Ears National Monument: Plants Highlighted in the Proclamation"
2. A photography book titled "Bears Ears: Views from a Sacred Land"

The downloadable plant booklet represents the only explicitly free resource mentioned in the source material, as it is available for download at no cost. The photography book appears to be a commercial publication, though the source material does not specify its availability or pricing.

Bears Ears National Monument: Plants Highlighted in the Proclamation

The Grand Canyon Trust offers a downloadable plant booklet focused on the botanical diversity of Bears Ears National Monument. This resource was created using President Obama's proclamation, which listed approximately 70 plant species found within the monument's forests, mesas, and canyons.

Due to variations in plant naming conventions, where some common names can refer to multiple species (such as eleven different Penstemon species found in Bears Ears), the Trust identified 129 distinct plant species that correspond to the 70 names mentioned in the proclamation.

The booklet allows users to explore the plant life of Bears Ears either virtually or while visiting the actual monument. This educational resource provides an opportunity for visitors and researchers to identify and learn about the significant plant species within the monument, contributing to a better understanding of the region's ecological diversity.

Content and Educational Value

According to the source material, the Bears Ears National Monument proclamation itself contains comprehensive information about the region, including:

• Geological history
• Paleontological record
• Human history
• Wildlife
• Plant life

The plant booklet distills this botanical information into a more accessible format. By focusing on the species specifically mentioned in the proclamation, the resource highlights plants that have particular significance to the monument's ecological and cultural value.

Bears Ears: Views from a Sacred Land

The second resource described in the source material is a photography book titled "Bears Ears: Views from a Sacred Land," created by photographer Stephen E. Strom. This publication captures the visual beauty of the Bears Ears region through photographs that showcase:

• The landscape in all seasons
• Textural subtleties
• Expansive landscapes and skies
• Deep canyons
• Spires and towering mesas

Strom's photography approach emphasizes that even small details like a scrub oak on a hillside or patterns in windswept sand are essential to capturing the spirit of the landscape. His work aims to reveal the remarkable diversity, seductive power, and disarming complexity of Bears Ears' sacred lands.

The book has received positive reviews from various publications and experts. High Country News describes it as a "colorful tribute" that "celebrates the landscape and urges its preservation for future generations." The photography is praised for creating "timeless and abstract compositions that make visible the effects of universal geologic forces."

Cultural and Conservation Significance

Both resources contribute to the understanding and appreciation of Bears Ears as a culturally and ecologically significant area. The source material emphasizes that the region is not only visually striking but also culturally rich, necessitating protection through its national monument designation.

The photography book, in particular, is positioned as a document that may serve either as "a celebration of the foresight of visionary leaders" who have protected lands like Bears Ears or "as an elegy for what was lost," depending on future conservation outcomes. This dual perspective underscores the importance of the region and the ongoing conversation about its preservation.

Reception and Critical Acclaim

The photography book has received notable recognition in the publishing and art communities. Etienne Benson from the University of Pennsylvania praises it for making clear "why this visually striking and culturally rich landscape needs the protections of the original national monument designation."

Rebecca A. Senf, Chief Curator at the Center for Creative Photography, notes that Strom's photography "celebrates the universal beauty of line, color, and pattern and simultaneously situates it within a distinct landscape," creating compositions that reveal geological forces at work.

Educational Applications

These resources serve different but complementary educational purposes:

1. The plant booklet provides scientific and botanical information that can be used for:

   • Field identification during visits to the monument
   • Educational purposes for students and researchers
   • Conservation planning and documentation

2. The photography book offers:

   • Visual documentation of the landscape's beauty
   • Cultural context for understanding why the land is considered sacred
   • Artistic interpretation that may inspire appreciation and conservation efforts

Conclusion

The provided source material does not contain information about free samples of Bears Ears books in the traditional marketing sense. Instead, it describes educational resources related to the Bears Ears region, including a downloadable plant booklet and a photography book. The plant booklet, specifically mentioned as freely available, offers detailed information about 129 plant species highlighted in President Obama's proclamation of the national monument. The photography book by Stephen E. Strom captures the visual beauty of the region and has received critical acclaim for its artistic and documentary value. Both resources contribute to public understanding and appreciation of Bears Ears' ecological and cultural significance.

Sources

1. Bears Ears National Monument: Plants Highlighted in the Proclamation
2. Bears Ears: Views from a Sacred Land