2024 7th Grade Eco-Ed

September 4th & 5th we were blessed with wonderful weather and the ability to provide Eco-Ed for 202 of the Richland Counties 7th graders.  The students enjoyed a day of fun learning.  The stations included: Prairie- here they had an informational Bingo Game on prairie plants and grasses that were presented by Richland County NRCS; Soils & Erosion- at this station they learned information on soil layers and types that were presented by the Fargo Soil Survey Staff of NRCS; Water Quality- they received information on water quality concerns using a model from the ND Department of Health presented by Jen Klostreich, Watershed Coordinator and District Manager of Richland Soil Conservation District; Wetland- they played a Wetlands Jeopardy Game that was hosted by Tewaukon National Refuge Fish and Wildlife Staff; Woodland- an opportunity to learn about Forestry facts presented by Keith Kinneberg, District Technician for Richland Soil Conservation District; Scavenger Hunt- a chance to answer questions and collect materials in correspondence to their answers for a chance at a team prize, hosted by Billie Jo Hinders, District Clerk for Richland Soil Conservation District; and a Specialty Program put on by Chahinkapa Zoo Education Staff- here they learned about the effects of extinction and poaching, along with ecology.  They also had the opportunity to see a corn snake, blue-tongued skink, and a young goat.  The students were taught about the areas in which the corn snake and skink actually live and how they survive.  They also learned that the goats are utilized to control invasive species around the zoo and countryside.  

Schools that were in attendance were Lidgerwood Public School, Richland 44 School District, Hankinson Public School, Fairmount Public School, Wyndmere Public School, Circle of Nations School, and Wahpeton Middle School.  

 We'd like to thank RDO Equipment of Breckenridge MN, Minn-Kota Ag Products of Breckenridge MN, Guardian Energy of Hankinson ND, GIANTS Snacks Inc. of Wahpeton ND, Red River Valley & Western Railroad Company of Wahpeton ND, and Dakota Ag Coop CHS of Kindred ND for the willingness to sponsor the Eco-Ed t-shirts for each student.  Also, a big thank you to the Historic Bagg Bonanza Farm for letting us use their facilities and feeding the students, teachers, chaperones and facilitators.