It has been a busy spring 2018 for the Whiteside County SWCD Education Foundation. We have been spreading conservation education throughout Whiteside County schools.
We hope to find activities to share with the 2nd and 5th-to-7th grades. If you are an educator in Whiteside County and have a conservation education idea you would like presented to your classroom, please let us know.
Call our office at 815-772-2124 extension 3 or email whitesidecountyswcd@hotmail.com. You may stop by our office, 16255 Liberty Street, Morrison, IL, anytime Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Thank you for supporting conservation education.
We held a chainsaw safety seminar on Saturday, February 24, with 40 people in attendance. It was a very informative and educational event.
Our local Envirothon Competition was Tuesday, March 13, at Highland Community College, Freeport IL. Fulton High School team #1 took first place; Sterling Newman Team #1 took second place; Sterling Newman Team #2 took third place in the competition. Eastland High School was the top FFA team. Fulton High School went to Monticello, IL, to the State competition on Thursday, May 3, and Friday, May 4. Eastland’s FFA team attended May 3rd only. Congratulations, teams!
Third grade native dogwood shrub distribution took place Thursday, April 5, through Tuesday, April 10. This year we had a total of five schools participate, with a total of 110 shrubs being given away.
First grade flower bulb distribution was Tuesday, May 8, through Thursday, May 10. This year we had a total of seven schools participate, with a total of 464 flower bulbs given out.
Our kindergarten coloring contest just wrapped up. We had three schools participate, with a total of 53 students. Great job to the prize winners and all participants! Everyone went home with a participation award. The prize winners follow:
Morrison Northside Elementary: 1st place, Caelyn B., 2nd place, Sarah O.
Sterling St. Mary Catholic Elementary School: 1st place, Callia P., 2nd place, Ike G.
Tampico Elementary: 1st place, Elle S., 2nd place, Brianna K.
Due to lack of interest, we had to cancel our annual poster and photo contests.
Tri-County 4th Grade Conservation Day planning is underway. It will be held Thursday, September 27, at Palisades State Park, Savanna IL. Conservation Day is a one-day outdoor education program, providing students with the opportunity to learn about the natural resources and environment of Illinois. This event supplements the schools’ curriculum content, by adding natural resource conservation and environmental activities, to ensure and/or expand these topics in the schools. Whiteside SWCD staff work jointly with Carroll and Jo Daviess County SWCD’s to provide the learning experience. SWCD will be assisted in this effort with professional county staff from Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Extension, Illinois Department of Natural Resource (IDNR), retired teachers, U. S. Fish and Wildlife, and Natural Area Guardian (NAGS.) Many individuals from the region who are experts in their field of interest volunteer to work together in this effort as well. The event is usually a huge success!
Conservation – Development – Self-Government