The Conservation District’s environmental educational activities target farmers, municipal officials, homeowners, teachers and students, along with many other audiences.  Activities range from participating in large community events, hosting many school programs, professional workshops and technical training sessions, or going out in the field to provide one-on-one assistance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cover Crop Field Day

 

The Cover Crop Field Day was held on the Smith Oak Farm on October 9, 2009.  Even with rain threatening, this event was well attended by over 125 participants and featured the following five stations: Cover Crop Plots, Aerial Seeding Results, Energy Plots, Manure Spreader Calibration, and a No-Till Demonstration.  Click here to see a powerpoint of this event (be sure to make it full screen).  In preparation for this event, an Aerial Seeding Demonstration was held on August 14, 2009. 

 

On Thursday, April 22, 2010 a field day entitled "$aving Time, Money and $oil with No-Till and Cover Crops" was held at the Smith Oak Farm.  This was a follow up to the Field Day held last fall. Click here to see pictures from this event.

 

 

 

Odor Regulation Meeting for CAO's

 

An informational meeting was held on March 13, 2009 to update Concentrated Animal Operations (CAO's) on the new regulations that went into effect on February 27, 2009.  Presentations included Fly Control, Odor Management Regulation, Animal Composting, Nutrient Management Plan Writing and Manure Storage.  This event was hosted by the Jefferson Conservtion District and the PA Ombudsman Program.  Click here to see more on the Odor Management Regulations.

 

 

 

 

School Programs

 

Our Envirothons, which target elementary and high school students, are an annual event.  Envirothons help students cultivate an awareness of the total environment and acquire a sensitivity towards its limited natural resources. 

 

Conservation District's across the state hold a High School Envirothon each year.  The winning team from each county can also participate in the State Envirothon.  Students prepare for the Envirothon at their respective schools.  Topics are Forestry, Aquatics, Soils, Wildlife and a special station that changes each year.  For 2010, the Special Station will be "Protection of Groundwater through Urban, Agricultural, and Environmental Planning".  Study materials for this year's High School Envirothon can be found on the State Envirothon's web page.  Be sure to check out pictures from last year's Envirothon below.

 

 

Our Elementary Envirothon are similiar in format to the High School Envirothon but students compete as classrooms in their grade.  The difference is presenters teach the students for approximately 25 minutes and then test them to see what they have learned.   Some of the presentations made by conservation district and volunteers from other agencies have included Watersheds, Agriculture, Forestry, Soil and Firearm Safety.

 

 

Below are some of these school programs the District has hosted or participated in throughout the past year.