Education

Students learning at table outdoors

Nebraska's NRDs have a variety of projects and programs to educate both youth and adults about conservation and natural resources. Many districts sponsor or participate in natural resources festivals, teacher workshops, classroom presentations, and more.

Districts also help sponsor regional Land Judging Contests, Range Judging Contests and the Nebraska Envirothon, with coordination from NARD.

Envirothon

The Envirothon is a program for 9th-12th grade students to learn more about our natural environment. Students compete in contests that test their knowledge on a wide array of subjects relating to natural resources and the environment.

NRDs host regional Envirothon contests around the state each spring.

A new Nebraska Envirothon site is being developed. Please use the information below for regional contest. Contact Alyssa at asmola@nrdnet.org with questions.

Poster Contest

The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts along with Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts provide kindergarten through twelfth grade students with an opportunity to share their thoughts about soil, water and related natural resource issues. It highlights the educational outreach efforts of conservation districts and their state conservation associations, auxiliaries and/or agencies.

Get more information (PDF)

2011 Nebraska NRD Poster Contest Winners

ACE Camp

Nebraska’s NRDs are hosting the third annual Natural Resources Camp titled: Adventure Camp about the Environment (ACE) ACE is open to 6th-8th graders who have completed 6th, 7th, or 8th grade in the 2011-2012 school year and want to learn more about natural resources and have an adventure at camp. The camp is structured around the six areas of Envirothon. The six areas campers will learn more about are: Aquatics, Forestry, Range and Grassland, Wildlife, Soils and Land, and Policy. Campers will experience a variety of speakers and activities in each of the six areas, and campers will also get a chance to explore possible careers in natural resources. ACE also includes adventure and activities for campers such as a ropes course, climbing wall, bonfire and games. ACE will be held June17-20, 2012 at the State 4-H Center near Halsey. The cost of the camp is $185.00 per camper and will include meals, lodging and activities.

Deadline for camp registration is May 25, 2012.

For more information and registration forms please contact Alyssa Smola at asmola@nrdnet.org or 402-471-7672.

Land Judging

Land Judging is a high school competition that challenges students to gain a better understanding of soil structure and land evaluation. Land judging enables each participant to learn how to recognize the physical features of the soil, determine land capability for crop production, and evaluate management practices needed for proper stewardship. Soil, land and home-site evaluation provide a setting for students to investigate the soils in their region, the environment that surrounds them and their effect on their daily lives.

NRDs work with area schools to host Land Judging contests all over the state each fall. Regional winners go on to compete at the state contest.

Range Judging

Range Judging is a high school competition that challenges students to gain a better understanding of Nebraska rangelands which makes up half of the State's land area. Range judging enables each participant to learn how to recognize range plants, range sites and the need for proper grazing practices.

NRDs work with the Society for Range Management, NRCS and UNL Extension to host Range Judging contests all over the state each September.