West Central Area II Junior Envirothon was held April 27, 2011 at Prairie Woods Learning Center, Spicer. Groups of middle school students compete at 5 different learning stations related to Soils, Aquatics, Forestry, and Wildlife.
This year, a total of 23 teams Jr. and Sr. Envirothon teams attend on the same day! Between stations, Junior Envirothon participants were able to enjoy a guided nature walk through the Learning Center. 2011 Junior Envirothon winners were 1st Sauk Rapids, 2nd Sartell, and 3rd Sartell.
Junior Envirothon will be held April 27, 2012 at the Prairie Woods Learning Center, Spicer. If you are interested in your students participating in this event, contact Pope SWCD 320-634-5327.
The Annual Area II Senior Envirothon was held April 27, 2011 at Prairie Woods Learning Center, Spicer. The goal of the Envirothon is to expose students to diverse environmental issues.
Student teams compete by demonstrating their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management issues. Students from Area II high schools competed for a chance to go to the state Envirothon. The teams consist of five members and compete at five training/testing stations. The stations are Soils, Aquatics, Forestry, Wildlife, and Current Environmental Issue.
Senior Envirothon participants also give an oral presentation. The students are given a scenario prior to the event. They have time to develop a reasonable solution to the scenario and prepare a presentation and poster.
At the conclusion of the competition, scores from tests at the stations and scores from the oral presentations are combined for final ranking and awards are distributed. Area II schools that advanced to State Competition May 16th, 2011 Spirit Mountain, Duluth, MN were as follows: 1st place St. Johns Prep, 2nd Morris Area, and 3rd Albany. It was exciting to have three different schools representing us at state! This is Albany's first time to state!
If you are interested in having your students participate in this event, contact Pope SWCD at 320-634-5327. For more information about Envirothon visit: /www.bwsr.state.mn.us/envirothon/
The 6th annual Pope Stevens WaterFest was held September 10, 2010 at Pope County Fairgrounds. The day started with rain, very fitting for a day spent learning about water quality! Over 270 sixth grade students and their instructors from Pope and Stevens Counties learned about the water cycle, treatment, and monitoring of water. Volunteers directed student groups to eleven learning stations for a fun filled day.
The highlight for WaterFest was a presentation by the Science Museum. This year, the Science Museum was sponsored by a grant from Tastefully Simple and WesMin RC&D. WaterFest would not be possible without generous donations from local businesses and volunteers.
Water Festival Committee Coordinators
Luan Johnsrud, Pope Soil & Water Conservation District (Coordinator)- (320) 634-5327
Judy Johnston, Stevens Soil & Water Conservation District (Co-coordinator)- (320) 589-4886 x 3
Waterfest will be held on September 9, 2011 - location based on weather conditions.
Waterfest teaches 6th grade students about the importance of water.
Conservation Education Day was held on September 28, 2010 at the Scandia Woods Environmental Learning Lab (SWELL). Conservation day teaches 5th grade students about the environment around us. Students participate in activities related to wildlife, orienteering, raptors and more. Representatives from the Raptor Center gave a demonstration to the students about birds, their habitats and traits.
Conservation Day will be held on September 22, 2011
at SWELL, the Scandia Woods Environmental Learning Lab.
Conservation day teaches 5 grade students about conservation related topics.
The 2010 poster contest
took place with 5th and 6th
grade students from local
schools competing. The
theme for this years poster
contest was "Conservation
Habits = Healthy Habitats." Participants could choose to participate in one of
two categories; posters drawn by an individual, or
murals drawn by a group of two or more students.
The overall winner for Pope County will receive a
trip to Long Lake Conservation Camp. The
overall poster and mural winner will advance on
to the area poster contest.
The winners from our local schools were selected
at the April 20th SWCD Board meeting. The
winners are as follows:
Overall Winner & Overall Poster Winner is
Dylan Holmes, Dylan is a 5th grade student at
Glacial Hills School. His parents are Russ and
Molly Holmes.
Overall Mural Winners are Courtney Erickson
and Meghan Thoen. Courtney and Meghan are
6th grade students at Minnewaska Schools.
Courtney's parents are Brett and Heidi Erickson
and Meghan's are Steve Thoen.

Above Top: Overall Poster/ Mural Winner
by Dylan
Holmes
Above Bottom: Overall Mural Winner
by
Courtney Erickson and Meghan Thoen |
BBE Poster Winners
1) Logan Schwringhammer, 6th grade
2) Molly Tengwall, 5th grade
3) Eleanor Ruchti, 5th grade
BBE Mural Winners
1) Kelsey Rosengren & Amanda Kollman, 6th
grade
2) Kendall Kampsen & Karlee Kern, 6th grade
3) Zach W. & Jake C., 6th grade
Cyrus Poster Winners
1) Agnes Dieter, 5th grade
2) Haley Erdahl, 6th grade
3) Nicole Gades, 6th grade
Glacial Hills Poster Winners
1) Dylan Holmes, 5th grade
2) Charley Steidler-Thompson, 5th grade
3) Brock Lardy, 5th grade
Glacial Hills Mural Winners
1) Stephanie Hanson & Hannah Mastellar, 6th
Grade
2) Halleigh Thompson & Brooke DeSmith, 6th
grade
3) Craig Spore & Justin Amundson, 6th grade
Minnewaska Poster Winners
1) Mason Schlief, 6th grade
2) Treyson DeJager, 6th grade
3) Mary Wuollet, 6th grade
Minnewaska Mural Winners
1) Courtney Erickson & Meghan Thoen, 6th
Grade
2) Ashley Blom, Hannah Trainor, & Rachel Stai,
5th grade
3)Raelynn Wildman & Ashlyn Guggisberg, 5th
grade
|