The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
Students examine antlers and a turtle shell at the wetlands and wildlife station. Courtesy photo.
On September 4, Foster County SCD held its annual Eco Ed Day tour for sixth graders from the Carrington and Midkota Schools. Fifty-three students in small groups attended a round of six learning sessions during the event. The goal of Eco Ed is to give students an outdoor education experience that provides opportunities for fun and hands-on learning. Fortunately, the day provided beautiful weather for most of the event.
Foster County Extension Agent Jeff Gale taught the agronomy sessions about North Dakota crops and how they are used. SCD Supervisor Curt Klein then helped students try out a hand cranked corn sheller before they took home a bottle that they filled with the seeds of fifteen North Dakota crops.
Foster County SCD Technician Easton Brown used specimens such as skulls, furs and preserved insects to teach the students about wildlife living in and around wetlands.
NRCS Soil Conservationist Zach Compson led the session on trees and woodlands. He talked with the students about different kinds of trees and tree structures, and some basic principles of tree identification.
NRCS Soil Conservationist Kelly Satrom taught them about soils, soil textures, soil health and erosion.
Ezra Aberle, a Research Specialist from the Carrington Research Extension Center, took the kids on a pasture walk to learn about rangelands and range management. He taught the students to identify a number of range plants.
Emilee Novak from ND Dept. of Environmental Quality used a model to show what watersheds are and how they work. She also talked about water quality and how to avoid polluting our watersheds.
At the end of the day, there was a special presentation to all of the students by Tom Gibson from Project TREES (The Regional Environmental Education Series). Playing the role of "Sam Ting," he talked to the group about the animals in the weasel family, the effects of pollution on wetlands, and the animals and people that depend on wetlands.
Foster County Soil Conservation District would like to thank all who assisted with this event. Besides the teachers and chaperones and all those who led the presentations, that includes Foster County for the use of Juanita Lake Park, Jon Stangeland for the use of his pasture for the range sessions, and Hi-Way Drive-in for handing out free ice cream coupons. We'd also like to thank the sponsors who paid for the T-shirts received by all attending: Arrowwood Prairie Coop, CenDak Cooperative and Sunrich Products.
