ENVIROTHON EXPLORATION DAY

The Forest County Conservation District is thrilled to announce the success of the Envirothon Exploration Day, held on December 19th, 2024. This exciting event, carefully planned by the Conservation District, brought together students from both East and West Forest for a day of inspiring, hands-on environmental education. The day’s activities fostered a deeper connection with nature and promoted environmental stewardship. A key goal of the event was to inspire students to join the Envirothon program when they reach high school.

Tick Safety

Presentations included a tick safety session led by Suzie Miller from the State Health Center, providing valuable information on staying safe from ticks and their impact on both human and animal health. Suzie brought examples of the different types of ticks found in Pennsylvania, demonstrating how to identify them and explaining what to do if you find a tick. She also brought along tactile examples to help students understand what ticks feel like on animals and stressed the importance of informing an adult when they find a tick on themselves or their pets, helping to keep everyone safe from tick-borne diseases.

BIRDS OF PREYStudents also had the opportunity to explore birds of prey through a captivating presentation by Professor Kurt Regester of PennWest University, who introduced the fascinating world of raptors. Professor Register also shared his love of falconry with the students and brought his own live Red-tailed Hawk to the presentation, providing an up-close, unforgettable experience.



MACROINVERTEBRATEThe macroinvertebrate presentation was given by Joel VanOrd and Andrew Schwab from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with Bailey Kozalla from the Venango County Conservation District. This session used newly acquired materials from an Environmental Education Grant awarded to the Venango County Conservation District by the PA Department of Environmental Protection. With the help of two newly constructed macroinvertebrate touch tanks, Students were able to interact with aquatic insects in a mobile, stream-like environment. Through examining and identifying macroinvertebrates found in the touch tanks, students learned how to assess the health of the stream from which they were collected. This hands-on experience allowed them to understand the vital role these tiny creatures play in aquatic ecosystems and how their presence or absence can indicate the overall health of the water.



FORESTRYStudents also explored forestry, with Sarah Needs and Jenna Morgan from the Forest Service discussing sustainable forest management practices and the importance of conservation. As part of the hands-on learning, students measured tree samples, guessed the age, and identified the types of trees; giving them a deeper understanding of forestry and the role trees play in our environment.

SOILThe soil demonstration, presented by the Forest County Conservation District, focused on the importance of soil layers and the creatures that live within our soil. The kids enjoyed pudding cups; which were used to visually demonstrate each layer of soil.

WILDLIFEFinally, the wildlife presentation, led by Heather Flick from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, educated students about local wildlife species and the conservation efforts necessary to protect them. Heather engaged students with a fun and educational game, sharing pelts and skulls of Pennsylvania animals and challenging the students to identify the species, providing them with a hands-on learning experience that brought wildlife conservation to life.

The Forest County Conservation District is proud of the positive impact this event had on the students and looks forward to organizing similar events in the future to inspire and educate the next generation of environmental leaders. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Forest Area Schools and all the local and state organizations whose support helped make this day a resounding success for the students.