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6TH GRADE OUTDOOR CONSERVATION WORKSHOP

On May 2nd, the 6th graders from Sheridan Middle School participated in the 2008 6th Grade Outdoor Conservation Workshop.   This event took place at the Sheridan Wetland behind the Middle School.  The students visited seven stations.  Each station taught these students about various aspects of conservation. 

Carl Cordle of Junction City taught them about the importance of bees; Penny Cox, Perry SWCD, did an activity that taught them about predator-prey relationships; Katrina Carpenter, Perry Co. Recycling & Litter Prevention, did an activity that showed the students the importance of recycling and proper waste management; David Snider, Natural Resources Conservation Service, taught them about the rock cycle; Sandy Lahmers, Morgan SWCD, did the stream table to show them about stream dynamics; Nicole Hafer, Muskingum SWCD, brought several reptiles and amphibians;  and Lindsey Grimm, Licking SWCD, did wetland dipping with the students.

It was a fun-filled and educational day for these 6th graders.

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“WATER IS LIFE”

Do you ever stop and think “The water I drink today was around when dinosaurs roamed the earth.”  Probably not, but it is a fact.  People need to be aware of water quality and quantity in our community.  Everyone relies on water and other natural resources to exist.  What you and other do on the land impacts the quality and quantity of water and our other natural resources.  In order to teach the youth the importance of water, the National Association of  Conservation Districts chose “Water is Life” for the Soil Stewardship theme and as its theme for the 2008 Conservation Art Poster Contest.  The Perry SWCD sponsored this contest for the youth of Perry County.

This contest is open to all students (K—12).  They are given the challenge of illustrating the “Water is Life” theme.  The posters were collected and judged at the April Board Meeting.  There were many original ideas and  wonderful posters.  The supervisors and staff had a tough time picking the winners.  The top two of each “grade category” (A– K-1; B—2-3; C—4-6; D—7-9; E—10-12) will be sent on to the Area contest.  The top three of each grade will receive a t-shirt.  The t-shirt will have the county’s overall winning poster screen printed on it.  This year, the overall winner was Ariel Collins, a tenth grader from New Lexington High School.  Following are the Top Three of each grade with the Grade Category winners underlined.

Kindergarten:  Noah Scott, Nicholas Losco, Benjamin Janita

First: Matthew Boyle, Claire Bowen-Kunkler, Christy Fehrman

Second: Jacob Shoults, Andrew Stevenson, William Bartholic

Third: Karletta Moyer, Stephanie Sweazy, Juliana Reichley

Fourth: Delanie Thomas, T-2 Maya Bartek & Ben Rhodes, Kaylin Yoakam

Fifth: Ariel Swartz, McKinsey Gilligan, Colton Burnett

Sixth: Jordan Harris, Dallas Smith, Kellie Pickrell

Seventh: Emmalee Denney, Kris Starner, Kalyn Morgan

Eighth: Liz Selegue, Jessica Patterson

Tenth: Ariel Collins, Dakota Sidwell, Mallory Bowen

Eleventh: Tia Isham, Andrew Steer, Kassandra Kinsel

Twelfth: Drew Wollenberg

Ariel Collins, 10th Grader, from New Lexington High School placed 1st overall in Perry County

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PUT TO THE TEST

The Envirothon is a competitive academic, outdoor team event for high school students that tests their knowledge in five areas: Soils, Wildlife, Current Environmental Issues, Aquatic Ecology, Forestry.

It is designed to stimulate and reinforce their interest in the environment and our natural resources.

The Envirothon encourages cooperative decision making, team building, and problem solving.  Teams consist of five members from the same school who have worked together to prepare for the competition.  While each student contributes his or her personal best, the score that counts at the end is the team score.

Perry, Muskingum, and Licking Counties host a Tri-County Envirothon for the high school students.  This event is to prepare the students for the Area 3 Envirothon.  They are tested in four areas (soils, aquatics, wildlife, and forestry).  This year, it was held at Flory Park in Licking County on April 22nd.  The team from Sheridan High School placed first in this competition.  The team consisted of Drew Carpenter, Katie Johnson, Silas Oberhauser, Amanda Cope, and Arlis Young.  Rob Brokaw is their instructor.

The Area 3 Envirothon was held on May 7th  at Shadow Lake in Monroe County.  The  team from Sheridan High School (pictured above) and 2 teams from New Lexington High School participated.  New Lexington Team Black placed 5th in this contest.  The top 4 teams at the area level go on to the State Contest which will be held June 8, 9, and 10th at Urbana University. If one of the top 4 teams cannot attend, New Lexington Team Black will be able to go.