It’s been a while since I was a student. Things have changed in the classrooms and there is probably more information for youth these days to absorb and learn.

One of my favorite subjects when I was in school, as I have mentioned before, was history. I loved learning what happen through the ages in far off places. It was as good as any movie for me. And even though I loved learning what happened in Japan in the 1890’s and the Sudan in the 1970’s, I had a tough time finding any of these places on a map.

Give me a map of Canada and I could easily label all the provinces and territories. Give me a map of the US and I could probably do the same with all the states. But a map of Europe? Sure I could guess some countries, but not many.

Today our youth live in a global community and it’s even more important to know geography than ever before.  Youth at the Ranch could grow up and work for companies in Qatar or meet their next girlfriend in Turkey.

A few years ago I was given this interactive Middle East geography test and I have kept it for years. It’s one of the most interesting interactive maps I have ever used and as a result I know exactly where Yemen and Turkmenistan is in the Middle East. Test out your geography skills and give it a try. Who knows, you might just learn something.