RCSW celebrates Conservation Day
On May 2, several Randolph County schools attended the Randolph County Soil & Water Conservation District's 5<sup>th</sup> Grade Conservation Day at the Randolph County State Recreation Area.
Students learned about conservation topics by attending seven different stations. Scott Isringhausen, IDNR Urban Fishing coordinator, provided students basic instructions on fishing at the first station.
He also provided all the fishing equipment the students used for a hands-on fishing station with instructions provided by Nichole Gibson, FSA Program technician, Cheryl Houghlan, SWCD Administrative Coordinator/Resource Conservationist, and Andy Schlichting, NRCS District conservationist.
Scott Martin, retired NRCS District conservationist, had a station on bees. Sara Marten, Extension educator/4-H Youth Development, and Alicia Garner, Extension educator/Horticulture, both provided a station where the students learned about plants.
Brandi Brockmeyer, Randolph County Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom coordinator, educated the students on products made with corn and soybeans.
Hugh Gilbert, amateur herpetologist, provided students with the biological background and safety on snakes.
The final station was provided by Carl Handle, IDNR wildlife biologist, where students learned about the Illinois wildlife by viewing skulls and furs.
The tents used at some of the stations were provided by Menard Correctional Center.