Students are getting a chance to escape the urban jungle of New York and learn about the forests of North America at The Museum of Natural History.

The students are becoming junior forest rangers as they travel from the Jeffrey Pine Forests of central California to the Bald Cypress Swamps of South Carolina and the Giant Cactus Forest near Tucson.

They're learning how the forest ecosystem works and its importance in making our planet healthy.

"Before I know that trees gave us oxygen, I was like, 'Yeah, whatever, trees,'" said Renie Dilernto, 10. "Then, when I learned oxygen, I'm like, 'Oh my gosh! We couldn't survive without trees!'"

"We learned that there's veins in a leaf, and the veins can hold water, energy, the food," said Zachary Greatmark, 9.

The American Museum of Natural History has educational workshops like this throughout the month of February. Visit amnh.org/adventures for more information.

To find more science, technology, engineering and math opportunities for youngsters, visit connectamillionminds.com.