Small Town News

County students get schooled on environmental education

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On Sept 23, 136 people went to Homme Dam in Park River, N.D. to take an eco adventure.

The Walsh County Three Rivers Soil Conservation District hosted their annual EcoTour, inviting sixth graders from all across Walsh County to discover their environment.

Karen Cudmore and Joleen Swartz organized the all day event that 118 Fordville/Lankin, Edinburg, Park River, and Grafton students attended with their teachers.

Cudmore said the purpose of the event is to teach students about the land and how to take care of it for future generations.

This year's event featured 6 stations. The stations, Swartz said, included lessons on woodlands, water quality, watersheds and wildlife, soils, first aid, and prairie and prairie grasses. The students were divided among the stations and they spent a half hour at each, learning from experts.

Dave Nowatzki from the North Dakota Forest Service hosted the woodlands station. Marty Egeland from the Game and Fish Department spoke at the watershed and wildlife station. From The Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rita Sveen spoke about water quality, Al Gulsvig spoke about soils, and Steve Ashpole discussed the prairie.

One of the stations that Swartz said the students really enjoyed was the first aid station hosted by the Park River Ambulance. She added that they really liked the hands on quality of the lessons taught.

Although each of the students received Eco Education t-shirts sponsored by Polar

Communications and First United Bank, the real prize is a traveling trophy that Three Rivers SCD provides to the smartest school.

Before the day's events each one of the students in attendance took a test about their eco knowledge. They then follow up the field trip with that same test to see how well they were paying attention to the lessons provided.

Swartz said that

Fordville/Lankin was the winner last year and the results had not come in yet for this year to see if they managed to defend their title or not.

"The teachers normally love this [EcoTour]," Swartz said. "We've had really good weather the past few years."

In addition to this fall EcoTour, Walsh County Three Rivers Soil Conservation District also hosts a Water Festival each spring at the. Park River Bible Camp.



Copyright 2009 Walsh County Press, Park River, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 Walsh County Press Park River, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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