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These students, along with Mike Yeager (Milton advisor), are studying macroinvertebrates at the 2001 Water Quality Education Program workshop.  The presence of certain macroinvertebrates or aquatic organisms are indicators of water quality.  

       The young people of today are the decision makers of tomorrow.  The message for the NCCD youth programs is that each person can impact on our natural resources.  Programs include:  National Wildlife Week, Birth of a Tree, Water Quality Education Program , High School Envirothon, & Middle School Envirothon.

 

 

 

 

 

  • Birth of A Tree- This program provides 3rd grade teachers with the materials needed for their students to plant trees.  The seeds/directions are provided by the DCNR, Bureau of Forestry and the peat pellets are donated by Clark's Ag Center of Turbotville.  The NCCD takes requests in late February and materials are delivered to the schools in early April.  The program is designed to teach the importance of trees with hands on discovery of plant life.  In 5 weeks, each student will have a seedling to transplant outdoors.

 

  • National Wildlife Week Presentations- Since 1938, the National Wildlife Federation has set aside a special week each year to focus on the importance of wildlife management in America.  During National Wildlife Week, which occurs around Earth Day  (April 22), the NCCD offers presentations to all 4th and 5th grade classes in the county.  The theme for 2005 was "Nature in Your Neighborhood".  Sign up for the 2006 programs will take place in March.

 

  • Water Quality Education Program (WQEP)- This program is designed to help students become aware of local water issues and how they are handled.  At least twice yearly, students from 9 area high schools monitor a waterway near their school.   They perform tests that measure dissolved oxygen, nitrates, phosphates, pH, alkalinity, iron, and other factors.  In the autumn, a WQEP Workshop is held where all participating students gather to perform tests, share results, and tour local water facilities.  The 2004 WQEP Workshop was held at the Northumberland County Conservation District office in Sunbury.  The water quality test kits were donated by NCCD Associate Member, Merck & Co. Inc., Cherokee Plant.  Lunch was sponsored by Augusta Spring Water of Sunbury. 

Water Quality Education Programs are also available to grades 5-10.  "Stream in the Classroom" brings the stream inside.  Students study samples from two different watersheds to determine stream health.  The results are compared and discussed.  The Enviroscape model is used to demonstrate how land uses impacts water quality.  "Aquatic Field Study"  gives students the opportunity to get their feet wet as they study physical, biological, and chemical components of a nearby stream.  Both programs will address the watershed concept and the factors that effect streams.  These programs were developed to assist educators in preparing for the new Academic Standards for Environment & Ecology through a DEP, Chesapeake Bay Program grant.

  • High School Envirothon-  The NCCD, along with the conservation districts from Union, Snyder, Montour, and Columbia counties sponsor the annual Susquehanna Valley High School Envirothon.  The contest is usually the 1st Tuesday in May and was held this year at the Shikellamy State Park Overlook, but the preparation takes place long before.  Teams of five use the materials provided to study for each test category: Wildlife, Soils, Aquatics, Forestry, and the current issue.  The NCCD provides programs and speakers to supplement the study material.  On the day of the event, teams rotate to each station where representatives from the Game Commission, Boat Commission, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Conservation Districts, and the Bureau of Forestry administer tests.  Approximately sixty teams competed in 2005; the winning Northumberland County team was from Shamokin High School.   The highest scoring team from each county advances to the PA Envirothon, and the winner of this event competes in the National Envirothon.  Pennsylvania has won 9 of the 16 national/international competitions.  

                                                                                                                                                

    This year's winning Envirothon team for Northumberland County, Shamokin Area High School's team B.

  • Middle School Envirothon- The Middle School event is much like the high school event with a greater stress on education rather that competition.  The NCCD, along with the conservation districts from Union, Snyder, Montour, and Columbia counties sponsor the annual Middle School Envirothon which usually takes place in May at the Montour Preserve.  At the event, teams of five rotate between stations where a test and a program are given by the Game Commission, Boat Commission, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Conservation Districts, and the Bureau of Forestry.  The stations include: Wildlife, Soils, Aquatics, Forestry, and a fun station.  Twenty-three teams took part in the 2003 event.  The Middle School Envirothon is designed to raise awareness of natural resource issues while preparing students for the High School event.