News

5th Grade Conservation Day

Posted May 17, 2011 11:00 pm

Staff reports

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The University of Illinois Extension Office in Randolph County sponsored 5th Grade Conservation Day for fifth grade students in the county on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at the Randolph County Conservation Area in Chester. Students from Sparta Lincoln Middle School, Red Bud Elementary School, Coulterville Unit #1, St. Mary's Catholic School in Chester, St. Mark's Lutheran School in Steeleville, Chester Grade School, Evansville Attendance Center, St. John Lutheran School in Chester, and Prairie du Rocher Grade School were in attendance. Students learned about Illinois wildlife by viewing furs and skulls with John Handel and Brian Mahan from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Mark Yehling with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources provided basic instruction on fishing. Mark also provided fishing poles, bait, and tackle for students to fish in the Randolph County Lake. Cheryl Houghlan, Solomon Andrews, and Andy Schlichting from the Randolph County Soil and Water Conservation District along with Nichole Gibson from the Randolph County Farm Service Agency and Charles Hirte, Sandy Gretzmacher, Angie Luthy, and Diana Robinson assisted the students while fishing in the lake. Students played conservation jeopardy with Meghan Poston from the Randolph County Soil and Water Conservation District. Live snakes were displayed in a presentation by amateur herpetologist Hugh Gilbert. Pam Lippert from TreeHouse Wildlife Center brought live owls and taught the students about birds of prey. The birds of prey presentation was sponsored by North County Savings Bank in Red Bud, Koeneman Law Offices in Chester, and Chester Chrysler Center in Chester.

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