Soil and Water Education Programs
Education Programs
The Alexander SWCD is available to all Alexander County Schools (k-12). Teachers, we can come to your school to help you meet your environmental education objectives. We teach various types of programs concerning soil water conservation. For more information about education programs, please call 828-632-0638.
Enviroscape
Enviroscape is a unique, interactive learning tool that helps people of all ages make a visual connection between land use and water quality. It is a tabletop hands on model that shows the origin of both point and nonpoint sources of water pollution and how watersheds work. This model is a great way to education students. It makes complex issues much clearer and helps students and people to understand how to prevent water pollution in their own communities. Once they see it, they don't forget it.
Resource Conservation Workshop
Annually the Alexander SWCD sponsors one Sophomore, Junior or Senior to participate in the Resource Conservation Workshop. This workshop is held in Raleigh on the campus of North Carolina State University usually the last week in June each year. Students who have demonstrated advanced maturity and an interest in natural resource conservation are encouraged to apply. High school graduates are NOT eligible to participate in the Resource Conservation Workshop. The Alexander SWCD Board of Supervisors will choose the participant and will pay for the costs. This week of intensive study requiring student attention and participation in a wide range of conservation topics.
Poster, Essay, Speech Contest
The Alexander SWCD sponsors a Poster, Essay and Speech Contest for all Alexander County students. This contest is usually held in the late fall / early winter. It is a great way to educate students about environmental education.
Topic 2005 - 2006: Water, the Cycle of Life
Poster Contest - 5th Grade
Students must create original posters depicting a story about the current contest theme. Posters are judged on the conservation message, visual effectiveness, and universal appeal.
Essay Contest - Grade 6
Students write a 400-600 word essay showing they understand the theme content, using innovative writing style with a clear message easily understood by reader, correct grammar, proper paragraph transitions with good opening and closing tie-in with the theme. Essays should be neat and meet all contest rules in order to be considered.
Public Speaking Contest -Grades 7 - 8
Students gave a 4-6 minute speech and are judged on comprehension and knowledge of subject, organization, originality, skillful use of facts, example, descriptions, speaking skills such as voice and diction, style, body language, poise, eye contact and rapport with the audience.
All contests follow guidelines established by the North Carolina Association of Soil Conservation Association and are administered by the local districts.
Envirothon
Envirothon is an outdoor environmental competition for High & Middle school students, to compete with other teams in a natural resources knowledge and ecology field day. Teams, made up of 5 members compete in the following 5 areas: Soils, Forestry, Wildlife, Aquatics and Current Environmental Issues. Students work together as a team to answer each of the test questions. The competition is based on written and hand on identification questions in the areas mentioned above.
The Area II Northwest Envirothon (13 counties) is held at the McGee Center in Wilkesboro. The top 7 teams from the Area will advance to the State competition ( http://www.enr.state.nc.us/DSWC/pages/envirothon.aspl )and the high scoring team from the State will receive an expense paid trip to the National competition (http://www.envirothon.org/) where some of the prizes include scholarship monies.
5th Grade Environmental Field Days
An environmental field Trip for all 5 th grade students in the county. Students visit a local dairy farm. On the farm, eight educational stations are set up which include Soils, Groundwater, Wildlife, Dairy Production, Food, land & People, Forestry, Conservation Practices and Wetlands . Students rotate through out the stations during the day, getting a hands on experience with each topic. The day also includes, hay rides to two of the stations and locally grown snacks including produced apples and milk.
Food, Land & People Curriculum
Food, Land & People for Grades K-12. Lessons that show the interdependence of food production, land management, and human needs. Food, Land & People is a national agricultural and environmental education program, which seeks to inspire and educate children and adults about the critical role of American agriculture in sustaining our food supply and conserving our environment for future generations. The program has developed a manual which contains many lesson plans. These lessons have been correlated to the new K-12 science objectives for NC. Workshops will be conducted for educators to become facilitators for the program. If you are interested in learning more about Food, Land & People, please contact the district at (828) 632-0638.
