Education & Youth

Members from the Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) were invited to Camp Mt. Luther (west of Mifflinburg, PA) to teach fifth graders at three stations held during Midd-West School District’s annual Outdoor Education program. These presentations were held on October 5 & 19, 2023, to approximately 145 fifth graders.

The three stations the SCCD were responsible for were:

• Importance of Pollinators & Soils
• Aquatics & Stream Life
• Wildlife & Their Signs

Check out this write-up for details and photos from 2023’s experience.

Contact Lauren Cheran, SCCD Program Administrator, at 570-837-3000 x2, for information.

The Conservation District (SCCD) has held many other environmental education events and field days for several years in and outside the school.

Inside the School

The Snyder County Conservation District, along with staff from other cooperating agencies, visited Middleburg and West Snyder Elementary Schools in May 2022 with environmentally based events for 5th and 2nd graders.

“Fifth Grade Envirothons” were held in each of the schools which a “contest” format was used. Students were given materials in the following topics: forestry, aquatics, soils and wildlife.

Also at both schools, second graders learned about trees, soils, what owls eat and songbirds. The 2nd graders were able to take home a mini-greenhouse, a bird call and other fun things.

A write up on our most recent school visits in 2022 can be found here .

Outside the School

An event in Richfield was held in mid-June 2023. Check out the Snyder-Juniata County Enviro-Kids Camp listed under the “Events” section below.

Ecology Field Day Events for the entire family have been held in cooperation other organizations since 2013 along Penns Creek and the Susquehanna River. 

If you desire additional information, please contact Lauren Cheran, SCCD Program Administrator, at 570-837-3000 x2.

The Conservation District has given other presentations in schools and to school age groups over the years. For example:

• Since 2001, water presentations has been given to West Snyder 5th graders almost every year. (2019 was the most recent set given at West Snyder Elementary)
• We have given presentations to local scouting groups and FFA members in the county over the years.
  • On a Saturday in March 2021, local Cub Scouts learned how to collect and make dogwood live stakes from Snyder County District (SCCD) Manager Jason Winey. Live stakes can grow to help prevent streambank erosion.

    Please read the news story written by the Sunbury Daily Item for more details on the event.

    For more information about live staking and how to prevent streambank erosion, please contact SCCD Program Administrator Lauren Cheran (x2) or SCCD District Manager Jason Winey (x3) at 570-837-3000.

• In years past, we created a “Soil Tunnel” in which young children learned the importance of soils.

Scholarships

SCCD offers scholarships/award monies to local high school students within the county interested in conservation. Contact the Conservation District at (570) 837-3000 or your high school for more information.

FFA Conservation Awards

Every year, the Snyder County Conservation District honors Snyder County FFA members who participate in certain SUN Area FFA contests: conservation public speaking, forestry and land judging. FFA members from Midd-West and Selinsgrove Chapters compete in SUN Area contests against other FFA members from Northumberland and Union Counties.

Overview

The Envirothon at the local, state and national level, educates high school students in natural resource and environmental sciences since its first local contest was held in 1979. The Envirothon emphasizes the importance of environmental sensitivity while stressing a need to achieve a social, ecologic and economic balance in life. The learning objectives emphasize awareness, knowledge, attitudes and application. The Envirothon provides future generations with the ability to be better equipped to address the complex natural resource concerns facing today’s world as well as the challenges of tomorrow. (From PA Envirothon’s Mission Statement)

Susquehanna Valley High School Envirothon

Teams from high schools within Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties compete in one location where they test their knowledge in wildlife, forestry, aquatics, soils and a specific current issues topic that changes yearly. Each county conservation district awards medals to the highest scoring team from its county. An overall winning team is also recognized. (Check out here for details about the 2023 high school Envirothon.)

Contact Jason Winey, District Manager, (570-837-3000 x3) for additional information or if your business would like to make a donation or be a sponsor for future Envirothons.

PA & North America Envirothons

Each county is eligible to send their top team to the PA State Envirothon each year.

For 2023, high schoolers representing 63 counties competed in the PA Envirothon. Teams gave oral presentations remotely during the week of May 15 and in person/on-site components at Camp Mount Luther west of Mifflinburg on May 24.

Topics which students were tested on were wildlife, forestry, aquatics, soils, and 2023’s current issues topic: Adapting to a Changing Climate.

A team from Penncrest High School of Media, PA in Delaware County won the state title this year. They will compete against other US state and Canadian provincial & territorial teams at the (National Conservation Foundation) NCF-Envirothon to be held on July 23 to 29, at Mount Allison University in Tantramar, New Brunswick, Canada.

Middle School Envirothon

SCCD also helps out with the annual Susquehanna Valley Middle School Envirothon with conservation districts from Columbia, Montour, Northumberland and Union Counties. Seventh and eighth graders from the five-county region participate in testing and hands-on activities.

In 2022, 141 middle schoolers (in 31 teams) participated in their Envirothon at Montour Preserve near Danville and Washingtonville.

Overview

This sub-section has information that can help homeowners conserve water that would normally not be used, such as rain barrels, household composters and rain gardens. Also, for those who live in rural areas not connected to a sewer line, we have information regarding on-lot septic care.

Stormwater Management

Stormwater is the water that runs off the land after precipitation, either rain or snowmelt. When wooded or meadow areas are replaced with roofs, driveways, sidewalks, and streets. These hard surfaces are called impervious surfaces, and they do not allow water to drain through them, unlike how rain can drain into soil (which is a pervious surface). When rain falls on impervious surfaces, it runs off rather than infiltrating into the soil or being taken up by vegetation. Some examples of problems caused by stormwater runoff includes flooding, stream erosion and pollution, and sediment build up in lakes and streams.

Learn more by checking out this document:   Homeowners Guide to Stormwater BMP Maintenance.

Rain Barrels

A rain barrel is a rainwater collection system that stores rooftop water for activities such as lawn and garden watering, car washing and even window cleaning.

Rain barrels provide rainwater that has no added chemicals. In-town residents that use public water can save on their water bill. A 2,100 square foot roof produces 1,260 gallons of water per 1 inch storm. They provide free water without stressing the water supply. Also, they help promote infiltration of water into the groundwater that would otherwise be lost to stormwater runoff, water that is shed from impervious surfaces such as asphalt, concrete and rooftops.

Note: At this time, the Conservation District is selling assembled rain barrels for a fee each (while supplies last). Contact us if interested.

Rain Garden

A rain garden is a type of garden which takes advantage of rainfall and stormwater in its design and plant selection.