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Education & Outreach
2010 ENVIROTHON
SOILS
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Soils Study Guide
Back Yard Conservation Brochure
FORESTRY -
Forestry Study Guide
WILDLIFE -
Click Here
AQUATICS -
Click Here
CURRENT ISSUE -
PROTECTION OF GROUNDWATER THROUGH URBAN, AGRICULTURAL, &
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING
Click here for the Maryland State Envirothon Website
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
PREVIOUS ENVIROTHON EVENTS:
Governor Martin O’Malley created BayStat by
Executive Order in February, 2007 – a powerful new
statewide tool designed to assess, coordinate and target
Maryland’s Bay restoration programs, and to inform our
citizens on progress.
Each month Governor O’Malley meets with his BayStat
team -- the Secretaries of the Maryland Departments of
Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources and
Planning, scientists from the University of Maryland and
other key staff -- to make sure our Bay restoration work
is on track. These sessions provide a regular
opportunity for the team to assess progress, evaluate
what’s working and what’s not, and adapt our efforts
accordingly.
BayStat allows Maryland state agencies to work
smarter…
- coordinating efforts and programs
- basing decisions on the best available science
- targeting resources to get the biggest bang for
the buck and
- being more open and accountable to Maryland
citizens
Click here for more information
SMITHSONIAN'S DIG
IT! SOILS EXHIBIT
Click here for more information
Soil Fun Facts
There is soil in
your dishes, in the paints on your walls, and some of your favorite
jewelry!
There are more organisms in a shovelful of dirt than there are
people on the planet!
Many of the antibiotics we use to fight illnesses were derived from
soil organisms!
Did you know it may take up to
500 years to
produce one inch of
topsoil!
There are more than
70,000 different kinds of
soils in the United States!
CECIL COUNTY ENVIROTHON
Cecil Soil Conservation District
sponsors and coordinates the Annual Cecil County Envirothon each year in
conjunction with the Cecil County Board of Education, Department of Natural
Resources Wildlife and Forestry Division, Maryland Department of
Environment, Maryland Cooperative Extension Service, and the Fair Hill
Nature Center. Training sessions are held at the
Fair Hill Nature and Environmental
Center within the Fair Hill
Natural Resource Management Area.
Nine high school teams from five area high schools participated in the competition that was held in May 2006. They were tested in five areas of natural resources: soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatics and
water stewardship in a changing climate. Our educational partners provide our students with the opportunity to work directly and learn from resource professionals.
HISTORY
Envirothon was started in 1979 by three Pennsylvania soil and water conservation districts. By 1988 the idea had caught on and the first national contest was held.
The 2005 Maryland event had 17 counties with 19 teams (2 alternates) held at Harford Glenn.
This past year about fifty teams attended the Canon National Envirothon.
What: Envirothon is a problem-solving natural resource competition for high school students. In Maryland the Envirothon sponsored by the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts (MASCD), which is an organization representing all of the soil conservation districts in the state.
How: Teams of high school age students are tested on their knowledge of a state's natural resources - soils, forestry, wildlife, water and a current environmental issue. Students visit five "in-the-field" test stations where written and hands-on problem solving is required along with formulating a strategy for increasing public awareness.
OBJECTIVES:
Participants will gain a deeper knowledge of the following:
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The affect individual actions have on environmental problems.
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The interactions and inter dependencies of our environment.
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Current environmental issues.
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The agencies available to assist them in resource protection matters.
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The need to become environmentally aware, action-oriented adults.
COMPETITION
Local Conservation Districts, in conjunction with cooperating agencies and educators, organize and run local Envirothon competitions. The winning county team then has the opportunity to compete in the State Envirothon which is attended by 20+ teams from across the state. The state competition champions then travel and compete at the National Envirothon. The 2003 Canon National Envirothon was hosted by Maryland. In 2006 the Canon National Envirothon will be held in Manitoba, Canada.
What determines the final team standings?
Students are tested in each of the five resource areas and also on an oral presentation developed during the competition directly related to the current fifth issue. Teams are given a "problem" to solve that is related to the fifth issue. During the competition the team must find ways to solve the problem and then as a team, orally present the solution to a body of judges. The team with the best presentation skills and content (solutions) will be awarded the most points.
4TH GRADE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM
The conservation education assistance to schools includes interactive learning in an outdoor classroom as part of special day long training and a variety of educational activities from in-class instruction and special presentations to over 2000 students annually from individual classes to multiple grade assemblies. The District co-developed and sponsors a dynamic Countywide
5th grade education program on soil conservation. This includes a full day of outdoor learning at the Fair Hill Nature Center and activities with soil composition, profiles, erosion control, land uses and conservation.
For more information:
Fair Hill Nature and Environmental Center
CECIL COUNTY FAIR
Every July at the
Cecil County Fair, the Cecil SCD displays activities of the district and ways that both Agricultural and residential landowners can protect soil and water quality. Next time you're at the fair, stop by and check us out!
BACKYARD CONSERVATION
You can be a part of the everyday habitat of your own
backyard. Please click on the picture below to find out more information:
SELECTING PLANTS FOR POLLINATORS
A regional guide for farmers, land
managers, and gardeners in the Eastern Broadleaf Forest Oceanic Province.
Click here for more information
PASTURE WALKS
Pasture walks are good opportunities for farmers to get new ideas about grazing and pasture management techniques first-hand from other farmers. When you go on a pasture walk, you gain from the experience of others and enjoy some time talking with fellow farmers.
EVENTS:
For more information visit:
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