Education

2009 Youth Conservation Field Day

By Jim Shilander jims@kpcnews.net

Wednesday, 13 May 2009 00:00

LAKE JAMES — For the 25th year, students from schools across Steuben County gathered at Pokagon State Park Tuesday to learn abut protecting natural resources and wildlife as part of the Youth Conservation Field Day sponsored by the Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation District and Purdue Extension Service. The SWCD’s Barb Angel said more than 8,000 children have gone through the presentations in the 25 years. Angel said the two agencies co-sponsoring the event felt there was a real need 25 years ago for the event. “We felt there was a need for them to understand conservation and natural resources,” Angel said, “so someday they could grow up and be educated adults, so our natural resources could be protected.” With more awareness today about environmental issues, even among younger students, Angel said the program still works to reinforce those values. “We show how it can be applied locally,” Angel said. With more legislation being passed based on environmental concerns, Angel said it was important to realize that the children learning today would be making the laws tomorrow. Students from Fremont Elementary School, as well as the four Elementary schools from the Metropolitan School District of Steuben County (Carlin Park, Hendry Park, Ryan Park and Pleasant Lake), took part in the event, which also served as a nice way to get students outside after having three rounds of testing this year, Fremont teacher Jessica Lake said. “There actually are pictures of some of these boxes on the ISTEP,” Fremont teacher Gayle Camp said of the presentations. “They have added a lot to this to make it about real life situations.” Camp said the field day also made students aware that they could make a living in some of their favorite subjects, like as a biologist. “They don’t even know these jobs exist, so its something to shoot for,” Camp said. Lake said she used attended the field day as a student. “The kids really enjoy it,” Lake said. “It’s gotten so much better. It’s a lot more hands-on.” Angel also credited the other sponsors of the event, including the Potawatomi Inn, Steuben County Lakes Council, The Nature Conservancy and the City of Angola/Trine University MS4.

Other info: Topics included a Wildlife discussion with Aaron Homan from Pokagon State Park; a Forestry presentation by Tom Eickholtz, Extension Educator, from the Cooperative Extension Service; a demonstration on Fish Management from Larry Koza, Fisheries Biologist from the Fawn River Fish Hatchery; an informative display and presentation on 4-H Natural Resource Projects from Extension Educator, Neasa Kalme; Soil Education and demonstration from Kayleen Hart, Resource Conservationist with the Soil and Water Conservation District; an Invasive Species discussion and display from John Emerson, Extension Educator from the LaGrange County Cooperative Extension Service; and a presentation from the Northeast Indiana Solid Waste Management, Program Coordinator, Pam DeCamp on Recycling and Litter.

The program begins at 9:00 am at the park with students attending 20 minute sessions with each speaker. Although the rain the night before and the chill of the morning kept the children in the Potawatomi Inn for the presentations, they were able to enjoy their lunches and break on the back lawn facing Lake James. Two more sessions followed the lunch break, with the day ending around 1:30 pm, so everyone could get back to school before dismissal.

Educational materials and Activity Books were sent to the schools as reinforcement material to follow-up on the field day education. The Soil and Water Conservation District, City of Angola, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (Ms4) Committee, and USDA Farm Service Agency sponsored these materials. Other educational materials have also been provided to all grade levels at the two school districts’ Elementary Schools in honor of Soil and Water Stewardship Week. The Soil and Water Conservation District, Steuben County Lakes Council and City of Angola helped sponsor this literature.

The Youth Conservation Field Day has become an annual tradition to educate the local youth about conservation. It has been held every year, except one, for the Fremont and MSD fourth graders since 1984.

Soil and Water Stewardship Week

In the spring, the education continues with distribution of activity and coloring books to not only the 4th graders, but to the whole county's elementary school systems. First through fourth graders are given educational material to go along with celebrating Soil and Water Stewardship Week. We also send educational material out to the area churches so they can incorporate this special week into their service.

West Otter Lake Fair - August 2007

 This year, we participated in the first annual West Otter Lake Fair. Educational booths were set up by many various agencies along with activities and prizes for the people attending. Lunch and refreshments were served. Everyone agreed it turned out to be a big success.

 4-H Fair Display

  Each year, the SWCD sets up a display in the Lions'    Building at the Steuben County Fairgrounds during the week of the 4-H fair. Come check out the display when you visit the fair.

SWCD Annual Meeting

 Each year around February or March we host our annual meeting. At this meeting, we not only hold board supervisor elections, we also have a speaker come in and talk to the public about a topic of interest. In addition to interesting speakers, a meal is available for a minimal cost. Contact our office for tickets to this year's big event.

Periodically, we also hold public meetings on new cost-share programs that have become available to the public or any other areas of interest that may need to be discussed. Articles are also published in the local newspaper and Steuben County Lakes Council newsletters on a timely basis.

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