A priority for the Pulaski Conservation District is the fostering of a greater awareness of their environment by students.  The following is a list of District activities designed to help bring this about.  Scroll down for additional information concerning the following educational topics:

2009 ARKANSAS ENVIROTHON WINNER: MILLS HIGH SCHOOL

Pulaski County's Mills University High School's Envirothon Team #1 won the 2009 Arkansas Envirothon held at the University of Central Arkansas on November 24, 2008. Mountainview High school placed second, Sheridan High School placed third, Morrilton FFA placed fourth, and Mills High School Team #2 placed fifth in the competition.  In addition, Mills High School Team #1 won the soils, aquatics, wild life, and oral presentation categories; Mountainview High School won the forestry category; and Mills High School won the special topic category.

The Mills High School Team #1 consisted of Cody Hooks, Kaleb Yaniger, Ashley Long, Dylan Hibbs, and Yazar Fahek.  Team #2 consisted of Mary Conner, Megan O'Connell, Vincent Gammill, Kirsten Elliott, and Zachary Robert.  Mills High School teacher, Gary Earlywine, coached both teams.

As winner of the 2009 Arkansas Envirothon, Mills University Studies High School Envirothon Team #1 will represent Arkansas at the 2009 Canon International Envirothon in August, 2009.  The International Envirothon will be held in Asheville, North Carolina.

ENVIROTHON: WHAT IS AN ENVIROTHON? 

Envirothon is a natural resource event for high school students to challenge their environmental knowledge.  School teams compete against other state teams in natural resource areas including forestry, soils, aquatics, wildlife and current environmental issues.  Envirothon teams and advisors work throughout the year with resource professionals for competition in the spring.   To obtain more information or to get a team registered contact the district office.  www.uaex.edu/envirothon.

AACD "DAVE FERGUSON" SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST

(September 23, 2008)

The 2008-2009 Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts' "Dave Ferguson" Scholarship Contest, which involves writing an environmental essay, will give a young person in Pulaski County the opportunity to win up to $100 towards college expenses when they choose a conservation-related course of study at an accredited Arkansas college or university.  The winner will also be eligible to compete for scholarship funds at the area and state level contests.

AACD Scholarship Awards:  1st Place ($1,000), 2nd Place ($750), and 3rd Place ($500).

The topic this year is "Climate Change: is it caused by naturally occurring  events or   mankind?".

The closing date for entries at the District level is January 15, 2009,  To request entry forms or request additional information, please the contact the Pulaski Conservation District at 501-785-2544 (Ext. 101).

This is a program sponsored by your local conservation district and the Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts in an effort to assist young people interested in careers in the conservation of our natural resources.

CONSERVATION POSTER CONTEST

(September 23, 2008)

The Pulaski Conservation District is sponsoring a poster contest for kindergarten through twelfth grade.  The grade categories will be divided into groups: K - 3, 4 -7, and 8 -12.  This year's theme is "Water is Life."  In helping the students decide on their poster composition, teach them all you can about the importance of water is their daily lives such as the water cycle, groundwater, sources of drinking water, amount of water on Earth, watersheds, stormwater runoff, drought, flooding, and water used to grow food.

Students can use any media on a standard 24 x 36 inch poster board.  Do not write name on the front of the poster.  Attach entry form to the back.  If at all possible the theme could be worked into your curriculum and prepare in class.  First place winner in each category will receive $20. The deadline is Wednesday December 3, 2008.  The winning poster at the county level will go on to the Arkansas Association of Conservation District's state contest in mid December, where additional awards are given.

Please call the District Office (501-758-2544) to notify the District or your participation and to schedule poster pick up or if you have any questions concerning the poster contest.

AACD 2008 YOUTH CONSERVATION WORKSHOP

(March 31, 2008)

The AACD (Arkansas Assn. of Conservation Districts) 2008 Youth Conservation Workshop is scheduled for June 8 - 13, 2008, at Camp Clearfork, near Mt. Ida, Arkansas, for high school students who have completed the 10th, 11th, and/or 12th grades. In addition to a camping experience, workshop participants will receive training in wildlife and forestry, in careers in natural resources, and in canoes and boat safety. Three $500 college scholarships  (sponsored by the AACD and the Razorback Chapter of AR Soil and Water Cons. Society) will be awarded to those students who score the highest on the final test.

The Pulaski Conservation District will sponsor a limited number of Pulaski County high school students for the Workshop.  Workshop applications, available at the Pulaski Conservation Office, must be submitted no later than May 9, 2008.  The Pulaski Conservation District Office is located at 4004 McCain Blvd., Ste. 203, North Little Rock, AR. and its phone number is (501) 785-2544.

MILLS HIGH SCHOOL: CANON ENVIROTHON ENTRANT

(October 9, 2007)

Pulaski County's Mills University Studies High School, winner of the 2007 Area and the 2007 Arkansas Envirothons, represented Arkansas at the 2007 Canon Envirothon, held in Geneva, New York from July 29th through August 4th.  The Canon Envirothon involved 265 students representing 44 states and 9 Canadian provinces.  On the evening of their Sunday arrival, the Mills students received Envirothon  T-shirts and exchanged souvenir items with their fellow students,

Along with 106 sponsors and escorts and 200 volunteers the campus at Hobart William Smith was very busy during the event.  Monday through Wedsnesday saw trips to Savannah Dhu, a private reserve and site for all the training of students before testing, Roseland Waterpark for fun on Tuesday, and Niagara Falls on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the students were tested in each of the categories including aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and special topics.  On Thursday the students made oral presentations, which constituted a majority of the points a team could accrue during the competition.  Announcements about the winners and a banquet took place on Friday; the students returned to Little Rock on Saturday, August 4th.

The 2007 Mills High School team consisted of Cody Hooks (sophomore), Nicole Seager (senior, now attending Hendrix College on a scholarship),  Sarah Akin (senior, now attending Rhodes College on scholarship),  Sinehan Bayrak (senior, first in class, National Merit Finalist, attending Hendrix College on a scholarship), and Anselm Beach (senior, attending Harvard University on a full scholarship).  These students have all received numerous honors in Advanced Placement courses along with being academic leaders at Mills.

The Mills Envirothon team has expressed sincere appreciation for all the NRCS people who o helped them prepare for competition, and for Ms. Carla Hill, Pulaski Conservation District Manager, for her contribution of time and effort to get them ready.  The especially appreciated Doug Akin for his expertise in forestry and assistance with the team and Jerry Lambert, who helped them through all the trials and tribulations of attending their first Canon Envirothon.he state's water clean and clear.

TO COMBAT GLOBAL WARMING: GET THE KIDS INVOLVED

Environmental Defense

Global warming will affect us all, but it our children who will inherit the planet from us.  Get your kids involved.  Teach them about global warming and how they can help by giving them the checklist below.

You can also visit fightglobalwarming.com to calculate your family's carbon pollution and learn more about the science and dangers of global warming.

Checklist for Kids:

IMPORTANCE OF RAIN FORESTS

kids.mongabay.com  helping children learn about rainforests and the environment

What are Rainforests?

Tropical rainforests are forests with tall trees, warm climate, and lots of rain.  In some rainforests it rains more than one inch every day!  Rainforests are found in Africa, Asia, Australia, and Central and South America.  The largest rainforest in the world is the Amazon rainforest.

Why are Rainforests Important?

Rainforests are important to the global ecosystem.  Rainforests:

Why are Rainforests being Destroyed?

Every year an area of rainforest the size of New Jersey is cut down and destroyed.  The plants and animals that used to live in these forests either die or must find a new forest to call their home.  Why are rainforests being destroyed?

Humans are the main cause of rainforest destruction or deforestation.  Humans are cutting down rainforests for many reasons, including:

How can we save Rainforests?

Rainforests are disappearing very quickly.  The good news is that there are a lot of people who want to save rainforests.  The bad news is saving rainforests is not going to be easy.  It will take the efforts of many people working together in order to ensure rainforests and their wildlife will survive for your children to appreciate and enjoy.

Some steps for saving rainforests and, on a broader scale, ecosystems around the world is to focus on "TREES".

CARVER "CROP" GARDEN PROJECT (CCGP)

CCGP is an exemplary 0.2 acre, outdoor "classroom" serving about 525 students at Carver Magnet School in the eastern part of Little Rock.  CROP is an acronym for Conservation of Resources with Outdoor Participation.  The Garden  functions as an innovative public-private partnership between Arkansas Urban Gardening Educational Resources, Inc. (AUGER), Carver Magnet Elementary School and the Pulaski Conservation  District.

Outdoor classrooms provide students with the hands-on opportunity to learn about natural resources through science education.  This project will have a variety of components ranging from flower, vegetable, herb and crop gardens to small ponds, worms, bird sanctuaries, wildlife habitat and watershed ecosystems.  The mission of the CCGP is to enhance the relationship between education  and the natural world by providing hands-on, outdoor, experiential  education for school children and adults.  One key focus is "teaching children where food comes from."  Another key focus is to encourage  outdoor wildlife and environment/watershed education.  The goal of the project is to develop an awareness and appreciation of the natural resources in Arkansas for elementary students at Carver.  The education program  provides a variety of  unique experiences for students that  enables them to make wise decisions concerning the care of our natural resources.

With financial contributions and material donations from the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Central Arkansas Water, Arkansas Farm Bureau, Carver PTA, and the Pulaski Conservation District, and with many hours of volunteer labor provided by students and parents at Carver, the project was completed in April, 2006.  At a May 2, 2006, dedication ceremony,  Volunteer Project Coordinator Ms. Alice Weeks acknowledged these contributions.   Carla Hill, Pulaski Conservation District,  Tony Ramick, Arkansas Natural Resources Commission,  and Diane Barksdale, Principal of Carver Middle School,  received special recognition at the event.

 ATTENTION TEACHERS! 

Did you know that the conservation district has conservation literature available for student distribution upon request?  Yes, the district and its partners can supply your classroom with pamphlets, brochures, or just knowledge on many conservation issues you may include in your lesson plan.  Please call the office if you need additional service.

Your shower does not stay hot forever, throw your trash away instead of on the ground.  To me make my crystal clear dream come true once again.