Education and outreach are key to teaching present and future generations about our unique resources and why it is important to conserve them. Licking Soil & Water offers many education opportunities including school- and community-based programs.
What is the Envirothon?
The ENVIROTHON is a high school competition designed to stimulate, reinforce and enhance interest in the environment and natural resources. Students are tested on their knowledge of soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecology, and current environmental issues. In addition, the Envirothon encourages cooperative decision-making and team building. While each student on a team is challenged individually to contribute his or her personal best, the score that counts at the end of the competition is the team score. A team consists of five students, all from the same high school. An adult advisor (or advisors) must accompany the team, but is not permitted to assist the team during the competition.
High School students across the state compete on the local level at one of the five Area Envirothons. The top four teams from each Area Envirothon then go on to compete at the state competition held each year in June for the title of State Envirothon Champion. The winning team will then compete at the national competition, the NCF Envirothon, held annually in July in a different location in North America.
This year, the Tri-County Envirothon will be held at 3405 Licking Lane, Zanesville Ohio in Muskingum County on April 18th. This is a practice competition for high school students with middle school students welcome to join. Registration for the Tri-County Envirothon will happen the day of the event, but please let us know your intentions beforehand so that we can plan accordingly.
This year’s Area 3 Envirothon will be held at Bluebird Farm Park in Carroll County on April 26th. We are looking for Licking County teams interested in participating! Up to four teams per school are welcome to join. Registration for the Area 3 Envirothon is due on March 16th. We will be in touch when registration forms for the Area 3 Envirothon becomes available.
Study materials for the Envirothon competition are available from Soil & Water upon request.
If you have any questions about the Area 3 or Tri-County Envirothon, registration for either event, or would like to be sent study materials, please contact Deirdre Wetmore at DeirdreWetmore@LickingSWCD.com or 740-670-5333.
2023 Camp Canopy Scholarship
Licking Soil and Water is offering a Scholarship opportunity for one High School student in Licking County to attend Camp Canopy!
Camp Canopy is a one of a kind summer camp for students interested in forestry, wildlife, conservation, ecology, and other natural resource fields. It is a week-long, co-ed residential camp open to high school students entering their freshman year up through graduating seniors. Camp Canopy is one of the most popular summer camps in Ohio and is the only summer camp where future foresters, wildlife specialists, and conservationists can get their hands dirty and put their knowledge to the test.
Supported by the Ohio Forestry Association (OFA), the camp offers a mixture of educational sessions with traditional camp activities and adventures. All educational sessions are taught by instructors from Ohio’s top natural resource organizations and industry experts from the state’s top educational institutions. Together, the OFA and Camp Canopy provide a curriculum that gives a comprehensive overview of the forestry and wildlife disciplines through lessons that incorporate both adventure and education.
At the end of camp, campers are able to take a test to qualify for a scholarship to The Ohio State University’s School of Environment and Natural Resources, Hocking College’s School of Natural Resources, Zane State College, or a scholarship for the student to use at a natural resource school of their choice.
For more information on Camp Canopy or to download or submit a scholarship application, please follow the link below.
Free Trees for Students
Thanks to our generous supporters, Licking Soil & Water offers free seedling trees to elementary and middle schools that serve Licking County students. The free seedling trees program is an opportunity to show students how important trees are to their health, their community, and their environment. Choose from two options:
Option 1: Each student receives a tree to take home. This option is ideal for schools where students have a place at home to plant a tree. Schools receive tree planting guides for each student and educational resources to use in the classroom.
Option 2: Request trees to plant on school grounds. This option is perfect for enhancing an outdoor classroom. Students take ownership and responsibility for the trees planted. Schools receive a tree planting guide and educational resources to use in the classroom.
In addition to the seedling trees, your school will receive tree planting guides, tree education resources for the classroom, and the company name of a Licking Soil & Water Annual Giving Campaign contributor. Please have your students write a thank you to the generous contributor that helps make the annual free seedling tree program possible.
Complete this order form by Friday, March 24, 2023 to reserve seedling trees for your students. The seedling trees will be available for pick-up on Friday, April 21, 2023 between 8:30 am and 7:00 pm.
School-aged Educational Programs and Teacher Resources
We offer Education Programs in the classroom, on your school grounds, or a nearby park. For these programs, our Conservation Educator will come to you or a secondary location and teach the lesson to your students or group. We also offer Loaner Kits to check out for use in your classroom. Information on our Education Programs and Loaner Kits are listed below. For more information, please contact Licking Soil & Water at 740-670-5330.
Education Programs:
Soil-based Programs
The soil under our feet plays a major role in where plants grow and animals live. Participate in soil testing and use scientific equipment to discover characteristics of Ohio soils. Compare soil from various places such as stream banks and grassy fields. Consider how soil is made and how we use the soil, rocks and minerals under our feet. All programs can be tailored to fit your age, grade, group, and standards. Choose from the programs below or mix and match programs to fit your needs and time limitations.
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Soil Soup (20 minutes)
This activity is great for introducing soil vocabulary words while making Soil Soup. With the help of props, students consider the ingredients needed to make soil. Vocabulary words: sand, silt, clay, percolation, horizon, humus, organic matter, invertebrate, organism, ecosystem, reclamation, restoration, habitat, decomposer.
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Soil Sampling/Testing (30-60 minutes)
Students learn about the physical properties of soil and answer comparative questions by performing soil investigation tests. Students collect soil samples from various habitats, read and follow soil test directions, and use scientific equipment. Lab option: Soil samples are analyzed for chemical testing for pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium levels.
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Soil Science/Intro to Soils (30-60 minutes)
Students learn about the physical properties of soil with a PowerPoint lesson and answer comparative questions by performing soil investigation tests. Optional addition: Students collect soil samples from various habitats, read and follow soil test directions, and use scientific equipment.
Water-based Programs
Learn about surface water, groundwater, and the quality of water. People depend on stormwater for drinking, watering plants and animals, bathing, cleaning, etc. Observe how water moves on the surface of the land and through the water cycle. Evaluate and test the health of our waterways. All programs can be tailored to fit your age, grade, group, and standards. Choose from the programs below or mix and match programs to fit your needs and time limitations.
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EnviroScape (20 minutes – 1 hour)
Using a hands-on watershed model, students learn about sources of non-point and point source pollution, and explore water pollution prevention through visual interaction. The EnviroScape helps students make connections between what we do on Earth and the impact on the environment throughout several types of landscapes. Vocabulary words: watershed, non-point source, point source, pollution, runoff, stormwater, best management practices, sediment, nutrient, organic, toxic.
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Groundwater Model (20 minutes – 45 minutes)
Simulate groundwater movement using a table-top model. Demonstration includes: pumps to recirculate the water, wells, springs, artesian wells, a lake, an unconfined and a confined aquifer, a malfunctioning septic systems and leaking underground storage tank. Dye injection is used to simulate groundwater pollution and contaminant flow. (Electricity and a water source is required to operate model).
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Water Quality Testing/Stream Study (30 minutes – 1 hour inside or 1 hour - 2 hours at a stream/river site)
Modeled after Licking Soil & Water’s Stream Team program; students learn about various types of water pollution, their sources, as well as career paths related to water quality. Participants perform habitat assessments, biological (with macroinvertebrates), chemical, and/or physical water quality tests on surface water. Credible data is recorded and analyzed along with other data collected throughout the county.
Loaner Kits:
Our Loaner Kits can be borrowed, upon request, for up to two weeks to fit into your lesson plans. We have tote ready kits with supplies, background notes, activities, resources, and more! The content in all Loaner Kits can be tailored to fit your age, grade, group, and standards. Choose from the list below or mix and match programs to fit your needs and time limitations.
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Mineral Puzzle (20 Minutes)
Use rock samples to guide conversation about how rocks and minerals differ, where they are found, and how we use them. Warm up with a rock sample matching activity. Next build rocks from minerals using a puzzle. Finally students create a work of art by combining their minerals to make a granite sculpture.
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Decomposer Tag (20 minutes)
Students play a freeze tag game where “Death” tries to tag and freeze the “Nutrients” in plants and animals. The “Decomposers” unfreeze the “Nutrients” trapped in dead bodies, allowing them to return to the cycle of life. Many resources provided to learn about the important role decomposers play in the food web.
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Pollinator Puppets (20 minutes)
Learn about different types of pollinators like bees and butterflies. Create a finger puppet pollinator using Chenille Stems. Then use your pollinator to travel between flowers collecting pollen along the way. Limited supplies.
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Life Cycle of a Pumpkin (30 minutes)
Students create the life cycle of a pumpkin starting from a seed. Variations and extension activities are included.
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The Incredible Journey (30 minutes)
From Project WET, students become a drop of water and cycle around the Earth through plants, animals, clouds, and more! Keep track of your travels and write a story about your incredible journey.
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Stream Table (30 minutes)
Students create a mini stream using sand and observe how stormwater moves through the sand. This model mainly shows erosion and with variations and lab study resources.
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EnviroScape Model (20 min-1 hour)
Using a hands-on watershed model, students learn about sources of non-point and point source pollution, and explore water pollution prevention through visual interaction. The EnviroScape helps students make connections between what we do on Earth and the impact on the environment throughout several types of landscapes. We have two different EnviroScape models available to borrow: a Watershed/Nonpoint Source Model, and an Ecological Restoration in Your Watershed (Wetland Floodplains) Model.
Adult Education Workshops/Field Days
We regularly hold a variety of workshops and field days. We hope you will join us in learning more about conservation of our natural resources. To review our current scheduled workshops and field days click here.
