2007 Conservation Field Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On May 11th the Sidney Field Office invited all the 5th graders in Fremont County to Waubonsie State Park to take part in a Conservation Field Day.  The students rotated between sessions with topics ranging from Forestry to Soils.

Tammy Grebert (State Secretary), Kevin Brannen (State Technician), and Fred Bolton (Federal Technician) talked to the students about native prairies. Then each student got plant a native flower in a planting box that they made out of recycled milk cartons. 

Activities

Doug Doty, Extension Education Director from the Iowa State Extension here in Fremont County, talked to the students on the different types of soils. He also showed them how to use a soil probe to see the different layers and types.

Jeremy Cochran, District Forester for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources showed the students how to determine the difference in conifers. He also taught them how to identify many other different types of trees.

Carl Preibe, Wildlife Biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources did an exercise with the students that helped explain the relationship between predator and prey. He also talked about the importance of habitat.

Wetland Specialist Luke Forney and District Conservationist Brian Gross took the kids on a wetland tour to a near by wetland. They gave a talk on all the functions of wetlands including the effects of the recent flood.

Forest Ranger Jim Beebe from the Fontenelle Nature Association demonstrates stream dynamics using a stream table. He covered everything from stream channelization to habitat.  

Mark Boucher, a Fisheries Biologist from Cold Springs State Park taught the kids the importance of identifying fish. He brought real fish to help with the identification.

Hamburg 5th Grade

Sidney 5th Grade

Farragut 6th Grade

Fremont Mills 5th Grade