The Steuben County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) has teamed up with multiple community partners that have vested interest in natural resources to host an annual conservation education event called Youth Conservation Field Day (YCFD).
YCFD is designed to introduce elementary students – particularly 4th graders – from Fremont Community Schools and Metropolitan School District of Steuben County (MSDSC) to natural resources conservation.
This annual program which began in 1985, is held at Pokagon State Park. Neary 300 students and teachers, each year, can spend a day learning about the importance of healthy ecosystems and conserving our natural resources.
The goal is to teach students using a hands-on approach and to begin a conservation- foundation within each student that could last their lifetime. In addition, natural resources education by community partners has served as one avenue to meet several Indiana Department of Education Academic Standards for fourth grade students.
Students and teachers all receive educational materials (activity booklets) after the field day to compliment what they learned during the day.
Youth Conservation Field Day Format
Students rotate through a series of learning stations covering topics such as:
Human Impacts
Station explores solutions that could be implemented to reduce the impact of humans on the natural environment and the natural environment on humans.
Forestry
Station explains the importance of trees as a natural resource.
Pollinators
Station explains the role of pollinators in our food system and discuss ways to protect them.
Solid Waste Management
Recycling presentation by the Dumpster Drummers™, teaches children (and adults) about recycling and environmental conservation.
Soils
Station demonstrates how the stewardship of our land and water benefits society with respect to food production and environmental protection.
Water Quality
Station teaches why water quality matters, what good water quality is, and why it’s important to monitor the quality of water.
Wildlife Ecology
Station demonstrates the importance of ecosystem-balance using a simulation activity where students become different components of an ecosystem to learn about wildlife / habitat interactions.
Partners
The City of Angola/Trine University MS4 and the Steuben County Lakes Council co-sponsor the educational materials with the Steuben SWCD. Potawatomi Inn provides the facility and equipment (chairs, tables, etc.) at no charge. The Steuben SWCD sponsors the Dumpster Drummers presentation in addition to educational materials. The other organizations/agencies provide volunteers to assist with conducting the field day (i.e., presenters, student group leaders, etc.).
Organizations/agencies that assist with the Youth Conservation Field Day include:
- City of Angola/Trine University Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
- Clear Lake Township Land Conservancy, Inc.
- Crowe Forest Management, LLC
- Dekalb County Soil and Water Conservation District
- Department of Natural Resources (Pokagon State Park)
- Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA)
- LaGrange County Soil and Water Conservation District
- Potawatomi Inn
- Steuben County Cooperative Extension Service (Purdue Extension)
- Steuben County Lakes Council
- USDA – Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA)