District Projects
Education
Envirothon 2011
This year the Envirothon will be held in Lake Bemidji State Park in Bemidji, MN on April 20, 2011.
The 2010 Park Rapids team of Sophie Shogren, Alex Renner, Brennan Larson, Christian Ridlon, and Danny Pike (pictured below) won 3rd place in the overall competition and also placed first in the oral presentation competition. Their teacher is Kevin Young. Congratulations team!
These Park Rapids teams, pictured above, also competed in the Envirothon on April 21, 2010. (1) Austin Gulley, Rachel Fineday, Nick Pappas, James Kujawa. (2) front--Lindsay Pearl, Sammone Parsons; back--Brad Capistrant, Jeremiah Baker, Ben Hennagir.
Other photos from the 2010 Envirothon...
Thank you to those from Hubbard County who donated to this year's Envirothon: Hubbard County Coalition of Lake Associations; Mantrap Valley Conservation Club Auxiliary; Minnesota Power.
The Envirothon is a nation-wide event that began in Pennsylvania in 1979 and in Minnesota in 1993. It is a unique, hands-on outdoor competition for high school students that challenges students' environmental knowledge and problem solving skills. Teams of 5 visit five 20-minute learning stations based on key areas of the environment. Stations are presented by natural resource professionals in the fields of wetlands, wildlife, soils, forestry and a current environmental issue. Students also make an 8-10 minute oral presentation on the current event. The top three teams from Area VIII will advance to state competition in May. The winner of Minnesota's competition advances to the National Canon Envirothon.
This type of competition allows high school students to showcase their environmental expertise, provides an educational opportunity to expose students to Minnesota's ecology, encourages academic excellence, and recognizes students' outstanding accomplishments in areas beyond athletics.
In Area 8, the Envirothon is held rain or shine. Registrations begins at 9:00 a.m. Students are served a morning snack and lunch; prizes are given. Donations by organizations, businesses and individuals are encouraged to help with the costs incurred with the Area and State Envirothon.
Teachers and students: To access the website for the Area 8 Envirothon, click on http://sites.google.com/site/area8envirothon
Poster Contest
A poster contest is held yearly for students in grades 5-6 on a rotating topic. For 2011 the theme is "Forests for People - More than you can imagine."
Winners of the 2011 poster contest are fifth grade students Jaiden McCollum and Alycia RonneBaum from Mr. Prenevost's class and Shania Farlee from Mrs. Pilgrim's class at Park Rapids Century School. Each received a cash prize. Congratulations to them and thanks to all the students who submitted a poster. These posters will be entered in the Area 8 competition in June.
5th Grade Education Day
SWCD and NRCS staff yearly participate in 5th Grade Education Day held at Itasca State Park in May.
Rural Rainfall Monitoring Network
Hubbard County SWCD has a rural rainfall monitoring network throughout Hubbard County that was begun in 1978. Each month volunteers record rainfall daily and then submit their reports to the SWCD office who sends the compiled data to the Office of State Climatology. Monitors are supplied with stamped, self-addressed envelopes and monitoring forms, so there is no cost to the volunteer. A rain gauge is also supplied. From time to time a volunteer may retire from the network, so new monitors are needed. If you are interested in being a rainfall monitor, please call the office for more information.
We are currently looking for rainfall monitors in the
following townships: Akeley, Clay, Fern, Guthrie, Hart Lake, Hendrickson,
Hubbard, Lake Alice, Lake Emma, Lake Hattie, Mantrap, Nevis, Schoolcraft,
and Straight River.
Observation Well Program
River Clean-up Project
The 6th Annual River Clean-Up Project was held on August 28, 2010 from 2-4 p.m. Shane Foley, District Manager, and volunteers walked the river from the dam in Park Rapids to the bridge on Fish Hook Avenue collecting trash. Thanks to all for their efforts!
The 5th Annual River Clean-Up Project was held on August 16, 2009, when eleven volunteers gathered to clean up a portion of the Fish Hook River. Meeting at the Fisheries by the dam at 2:00 p.m., volunteers walked the river or paddled a canoe or kayak down to the bridge at Crocus Hill Street picking up various items of trash along the way. The garbage was then brought to the transfer station. Thanks to those who participated in this event!
