Celebrations/Education Activities
2013 City of Springfield Earth Fair - AISWCD Educational Material/Links HERE
Leopold Education Project
The Leopold Project was developed in an effort to help raise the public’s awareness about the pressures being placed on our environment. The project addresses the viewpoints of all ages and attempts to sensitize the public about their responsibility to the environment. A teacher’s guide, activity workbook and video were developed for indoor and outdoor activities based on the 22 essays found in A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold.
Today, the Leopold Education Project (LEP) is an innovative program that develops and distributes conservation and environmental education curriculum based on the classical writings of Aldo Leopold. The objective of LEP is to teach individuals about humanity’s ties to the natural world and to instill within each of us a personal land ethic. LEP distributes two curricula: 1) Lessons in a Land Ethic for sixth grade and up and 2) Land Ethics Curriculum, which can be used for grades K-12. LEP teaches land ethics through an interdisciplinary approach of reading about Leopold’s recorded discoveries and participating in hands-on activities.
For more information:
Illinois Coordinator - Debbie Ruff
Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Soil and Water Stewardship Week
Since 1955, the nation’s 3,000 local soil and water conservation districts have celebrated Soil and Water Stewardship Week. Each year, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) selects a theme, prepares educational and promotional materials and distributes them to educators and religious leaders through local soil and water conservation districts. The theme reflects upon natural resource topics with the common goal of reminding all people of their individual responsibility to care for our soil and water resources.
Soil and Water Stewardship Week is officially observed between the last Sunday in April and the first Sunday in May. However, the observance may be celebrated at any time during the year. Contact your local SWCD to find out what materials/activities they can provide to you.
Environmental Education Urban Style
Many Illinois citizens grow up in small towns to large metropolis areas and often aren’t exposed to the wide-open spaces of Illinois’ landscape. There are several educational programs available that teach urban citizens about nature through stewardship and exploration, in such a way that fosters a connection to our natural resources.
There are nearly 2 billion acres of land in the US. More than 92 million acres is privately developed and much of it is in the care of homeowners. Backyard Conservation, a multifaceted project,strives to educate homeowners about practices that they can establish in their own backyard to improve the environment, help wildlife and create a more aesthetic area. The practices include information on tree planting, wildlife habitat, ponds, wetlands, composting, mulching, nutrient management, terracing, water conservation and pest management. These activities can be done not only in a backyard but are adaptable to areas around apartments and businesses, community gardens, schools,parks and other public places.
Education Tools
Watershed Park was created by the Illinois Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency along with numerous public and private partners. It is located in a park-like setting east of the Department of Agriculture’s headquarter building in Springfield, IL. Watershed Park consists of 13 interactive stations addressing best management practices (BMPs) for a healthy watershed to inform the public about protecting water quality within their watersheds. Watershed Park is open for scheduled visits from April 15th until October 10th (weather permitting) for groups of various size and age, free of charge. Teacher training programs are held to provide information on how teachers can apply lessons and activities in their own classroom, Watershed Park, and/or your local area watershed.
What is a Watershed? It is a geographical feature on the landscape where rain, snow and other precipitants then drain to a common water body (stream, lake, wetland, river) and/or sinks into the groundwater. Find information on your local watershed {link to http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/locate/index.cfm}.
Local Outreach/Education Directory
The AISWCD in cooperation with the 98 SWCDs throughout Illinois provide local schools, businesses and organizations with vital conservation and environmental education resources and activities. These efforts focus on the wise use of our state’s vast natural resources. RESOURCES and ACTIVITIES available include such things as: local and state Envirothon competitions; White Pine Seedlings for 3rd Graders; Nature Walks; Tree and Fish sales; Conservation Field Days; Poster Contest; Soil and Water Stewardship programs and a wide variety of other services and materials. To download the current version of the Education Directory.
Partnerships
Teamwork is a joint effort to reach a common goal. The AISWCD continues to maintain and culture new partnerships to help further the cause of conservation issues. These partnerships include such agencies and organizations as: Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Illinois Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D), state and federal legislators and the public. The development of these partnerships leads to a stronger joint effort to protect and preserve Illinois’ resources. {link to aiswcd website where partners links are}
Conservation Practices and Programs
Everyday farmers across the state are taking measure to protect water quality, save soil and preserve our natural resources. They do this through a variety of practices such as: establishing Integrated Pest Management programs, No-tilling verses plowing, and planting filter strips/windbreaks, developing waterways or terraces and continuing to educate themselves about new technologies and techniques as they are developed.
It’s these technologies and techniques that Soil and Water Conservation Districts are in a unique position to help communicate and demonstrate at a local level to not only farmers and the agriculture community but also to businesses, schools and the public. Through demonstrations, field days, youth oriented programs, news articles and promotional literature SWCD can take a lead role in expanding the publics’ knowledge about conservation practices and programs.
Some examples of Conservation Practices and Programs
1. Tillage practices such as: no-till, ridge-till, mulch-till, strip-till or conventional-till2. Nutrient, manure and woodland management
3. Abandoned Well Sealing
4. Buffer strips, filter strips, terraces and grassed waterway
5. Integrated Pest Management
For additional information on Conservation Practices or Programs check these agencies:
Conservation Technology Information Center - Know Your Watershed
Illinois Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture/Natural Resource Conservation Service
University of Illinois – College of Agriculture, Consumer & Environmental Sciences
University of Illinois Extension – Agriculture
University of Illinois Extension – Natural Resources
Website Listings
Ag-tivities for Soil-Minded Citizens
Illinois NRCS – Teachers section
University of Illinois Extension
Environmental Education Association of Illinois
Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity –Illinois Sustainable Education Project (ISTEP)