Environmental Education

Environmental Education is a key component of the District's conservation efforts. The Coordinator for this program has established a working partnership with both the Tunkhannock Area and Lackawanna Trail School Districts and Keystone College. Several annual programs are available to both school districts, and workshops are provided for area teachers. These workshops are designed to help educators meet the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Standards for Environment and Ecology. Educators receive curriculum and project materials to help them incorporate the standards into their classroom lessons and activities.

Community clubs and groups, local businesses, environmental agencies, and neighboring Conservation Districts also request assistance through the Environmental Education Program.

The following are some of the annual events featured in the District's Environmental Education Program:

• Arbor Day - This program, which is supported by local businesses, provides each preschool, elementary, and middle school student in the local area with seedlings. Each local high school student receives a flowering tree.

• Jim Rice Memorial Conservation Field Days - This event, which is held each May at Rice's Tree Farm on Mile Road in Tunkhannock, is for all 5th graders at Tunkhannock Area and Lackawanna Trail schools. Presenters provide information on topics such as watersheds, Pennsylvania's native animals, soils, mapping and land use, beekeeping, forestry, and surveying. 2007 marked the 28th anniversary of this event.

Education station at the Conservation Field Day.

• Pennsylvania Envirothon - This annual event, which is sponsored by Wyoming and Lackawanna Counties and Keystone College, serves to educate high school students in natural resources and environmental sciences. High school students grades 9-12 spend the day competing on a variety of environmental topics. The winning teams from each county receive a scholarship from Keystone College and are eligible to compete at the State Envirothon.

• Woodland Resources Adventure Camp - This 4-day camp, which is held every July for kids 12-16 years of age, is sponsored by the Wyoming County and Sullivan County Conservation Districts and the Endless Mountains Resource Conservation and Development office. Campers learn about natural resource management. 

• 4th Grade Ag Day - This event is held each September at the Wyoming County Fair Grounds. All 4th grade students from both Tunkhannock and Lackawanna Trail School Districts attend. The students rotate through 18 stations and learn about the importance of agriculture in their everyday lives. Topics include vintage farm equipment, plants, maple syrup making, wool spinning, bees, livestock (chickens, horses, cows, sheep, pigs), and farm and ATV safety. This event helps teachers meet the state requirements for Environment and Ecology.

Contact: Laura Anderson, (570) 836-2589 Ext. 105