KNOWLESVILLE — The wind and rain held off long enough Wednesday morning for sixth-graders from Holley, Medina and those who are homeschooled to enjoy the 40th annual Orleans County Conservation Field Days at the Orleans County 4H Fairgrounds.
Each year, Conservation Field Days is set up for students throughout the county to attend. The day helps them learn about different environmental topics such as recycling, zone tilling and erosion, retriever training and how to determine the health of a stream by using aquatic invertebrates.
Shelby Kunker, from Holley, said her favorite station was the “aquatic insects” one, where she was able to look at different bugs that are found in water. “Some of them were preserved,” she said.
The day is meant to be fun for the children, and Kunker’s classmate, Dustin Hendrickson said he was able to “learn a lot of stuff.” Hendrickson not only learned about conservation, he’s also taking some of that new knowledge home with him after choosing his favorite station — Composting.
“I can do that at home. It actually will help my mom in the garden,” he said.
During the day, students go to approximately nine stations out of 15 that are set up and manned by volunteers. Medina sixth-grade teacher John Vogt said each class spends about 15 minutes at the stations before moving on to the next.
“Many of the activities are hands-on. Others, it’s a lecture style,” Vogt said. He has been bringing his class to Conservation Field Days for about the past 15 years he said. The annual event has been going strong for 40 years.
Anthony Pane, a student in Vogt’s class, said he enjoyed being able to attend the field day event because he was able to learn many things about the conservation field.
“I like the soil one. It talked about erosion. They told about how it effects the farmers. It takes away the minerals in the soil,” Pane said. To help reduce the effects of erosion, he and his classmates were taught about zone tilling — when crops are planted in alternating rows and grass is grown in the rows between the crop.
This year, each school in the district was able to attend to program. On Tuesday, Albion, Kendall and Lyndonville sixth-graders were at the fairgrounds to go through the stations.
This year, Ted Osborne, director of recycling with Modern Disposal Services based in Model City, was able to attend and teach the children about recycling and why everyone should do it.
“They learn why we recycle. They learn what is recyclable. They learn the value of recycling,” Osborne said, adding that he also teaches them what happens to recycled materials and the products that can be made out of them.
The future of recycling though is in composting and “electronic recycling,” he said.
“All the stuff is related to green house gas,” Osborne said. “You don’t have to cut down trees to make new products.”
Contact reporter Miranda Vagg at 798-1400, ext. 2225.
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
May 22, 2008
EDUCATION: Students enjoy, learn from Conservation Field Days
- Local News
-
-
Market on Main will offer fresh produce, baked goods
Medina’s Main Street has more than its fair share of spots to pick up prepared food, but starting this summer there will be a place to buy artisanal bread and locally-grown produce.Dave and Bonnie Reigle have operated a produce stand on their Ridge Road farm for 17 years. They plan to open Reigle’s Market on Main in the former Whole Nine Yards and be open year-round as a bakery and produce store.
-
Lyndonville BoE approves budget propositions
The Lyndonville Board of Education approved the four propositions district residents will vote on May 15, including the school’s $12,964,687 budget.The 2012-13 budget decreases spending by 1.28 percent, but the property tax levy will rise by 1.95 percent to $4,620,374. The estimated property tax rate is $18.40, an increase of 1.38 percent and a bump of a quarter for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
-
Medina BoE OK's budgets for May 15 vote
Medina Central School District residents will have the option this May to vote for a budget that does not raise the property tax levy next year, but does increase the district’s budget by 1.74 percent.
-
Ridgeway sets public hearings
The Ridgeway Town Board will hold two public hearings at its next meeting on May 21.
-
Hoag will host STEM summer camp
The Hoag Library in Albion isn’t set to open until the weekend after Independence Day, but preparations are well underway for a two-week summer camp for a select group of Albion students.
-
Growing like a weed
The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Home and Garden Show had a new home this year, and a record crowd came out to Knowlesville for helpful advice, information about local businesses and organizations, and a wide range of activities, promotions and giveaways.
-
Village budget talks continue
Medina’s 2012-13 budget is coming together at a series of meetings between department heads and village board members that largely focus on projected spending plans and areas where cuts can be made and additional revenue can be found.The board met Monday with Police Chief Jose Avila, who said his department budget will be less than the current year despite increasing salaries and associated benefits.
-
Hoag Library era nears in Albion
The transition of Albion's long-time library to a modern South Main Street facility is quickly approaching, which had the Swan Library Board of Trustees discussing the closing of the current library in early June, a month of movement and plans to resume service at the new Hoag Library on the day after the facility's July 7 grand opening at their Wednesday meeting.
-
Pillars hosting Titanic evening
The extravagant experience that the high-class passengers enjoyed on the first and final voyage of the RMS Titanic will be replicated in a dinner at The Pillars Estate’s new ballroom this weekend.The Pillars echoes the luxury liner’s grand staircase and chandelier, with historic touches throughout the restored County House Road mansion’s ballroom.
-
Shelby formalizes reserve funds
The Town of Shelby has had a highway equipment reserve fund for as long as Supervisor Skip Draper can remember, but to be safe the town board formally created the fund and other others Tuesday.Draper said the origins of the town’s long-standing funds, used to prepare for large expenses and avoid a yo-yo-ing budget, were questioned in an audit of the town’s finances.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Market on Main will offer fresh produce, baked goods
Ravi Spared Prison in Rutgers Webcam Case
Miss. Prison Quiet After Riot; 1 Dead
Obama Confident Afghans Can Take Security Lead
Raw Video: Deadly Bombing at Yemen Parade Preps
Professor: Chinese Activist's 'Spirit Is Good'
Ring of Fire Eclipse Seen in U.S., Asia
Golden Gate Bridge Celebrates 75 Years
G-8 Seeks Unity on Euro-debt Crisis, Iran
Prosecutors: Trio Planned to Attack Obama's HQ
Obama: G8 Unified in Stance on Iran, Syria
