Education

The Middle Republican Natural Resources District has a wealth of resources available to educators and community groups in our district. Our lending library includes books, activity guides, videos, games, a ground water flow model, stencils and other materials that provide informative and factual information to compliment natural resource studies. Topics range from animals to trees and water. These curriculum activities involve students in fun, hands-on activities designed to increase their knowledge of their natural environment.

The district also makes available many items to the general public as well as program topics, presentations, public information meetings, award programs, training programs and many publications that are consistent with it's mission. Staff members may be available for group presentations.

5th Grade Conservation Craze (formerly Frontier County Outdoor Education Day)

Each fall, the NRD hosts a free outdoor education day for 5th grade students. Schools in the NRD's portions of Frontier, Red Willow, Hayes, and Hitchcock counties are eligible to attend.

The event is held at Mill Park in Curtis, or at a backup location like the Legion Hall if the weather is poor. Students spend the day in hands-on educational activities focusing on water, wildlife, forestry, geography, and more.

More than 1,000 students have attended the Outdoor Education Day since its inception. Presenters are drawn from a variety of local, state and federal agencies. Members of local FFA chapters serve as guides.

Registration information is sent to all schools in the district in August each year. Registrations are also accepted online.

Grants & Scholarships

The NRD has a variety of grants and scholarships for students, teachers and schools.

College Scholarships for the 2008-2009 Fall semester are due at our office by 5:00 PM Tuesday, April 1, 2008. Applications are available at our Office and will be distributed to district guidance counselors, vocational agriculture instructors, natural science teachers, financial aid offices at McCook Community College and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. [More information and Application]

Nebraska Envirothon

The Middle Republican NRD cosponsors the Nebraska Envirothon. The Nebraska Envirothon is part of a national competition for 9-12 grade students. For more information on the Mid-Plains Regional Envirothon Contest contact regional coordinator Roger Lawsonl at the Middle Republican NRD office or visit the National Canon Envirothon. This year's competition for Mid Plains Area will be February 27th, 2008 at the Nebraska College of Agricultural Technology, Curtis.

Land Judging

The Middle Republican NRD cosponsors all FFA land judging contests held within its boundaries.

Land judging contests provide high school students with the opportunity to gain a better understanding of soil structure and land evaluation in a competitive setting. The contests strengthens each participant’s ability to recognize the physical features of the soil, determine land capability for crop production, and evaluate management practices needed for proper stewardship. The land evaluation process provides a setting for students to investigate the soils in their region, the environment that surrounds them, and their effect on their daily lives.

Through land judging contests, students assimilate important information about the world they live in. Their understanding of the soil and its relationship to plants, water and air are improved. The students look at a number of factors in land judging, depth of soil, surface texture, permeability, slope, erosion, and organic matter. They also develop a knowledge of land treatment practices and where those practices can best be applied.

For more information on land judging in Nebraska, please visit the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts web page and click on the Land Judging information link. www.nrdnet.org/about/LandJudging/landjudgingindex.htm

Range Judging

The Middle Republican NRD cosponsors the FFA range judging contests held within its boundaries.

Range and pastures account for 52 percent of the land in the state of Nebraska. Range judging contests are an effective tool for teaching students about Nebraska’s rangelands and grasslands, and the benefits of good range management. Range judging contests are for everyone - youth, adults, beginners, professionals - whether from rural or urban areas. All that is required is a desire to learn more about rangeland and its management.

To perform well, contestants must be able to identify range plants by name and know their growth habits, livestock forage value, and other characteristics. An understanding of the range plant community, range condition, and range sites is also important. Contestants should know the concepts of proper range use, wildlife habitat management, and how to manage rangeland resources.

Contestants compete individually, in teams, or both. Teams are made up of three or four individuals. There are divisions for Junior Youth (freshmen and sophomores), Senior Youth (juniors and seniors), Adult, and Professional

There are six Range Judging Areas in Nebraska. The Middle Republican NRD makes up Area 3 in the south central portion of the state. The NRDs partner with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and University of Nebraska-Extension to organize and hold the contests. The NRDs handle the contest organization and scoring and NRCS plans and operates the field portion of the contest.

The State Range Judging Committee oversees range judging in the state. Members of the committee approve all rules and regulations and select the host counties for all contests. The committee meets on an annually, the evening before the state contest.

Other educational offerings:

In-School Presentations: Programs include presentations on groundwater and surface water, trees, and water quality among others. Presentations can be geared to most any age group. Contact the Information and Education Coordinator for more details.

Resource and Video Library: Available to check out are books, games, storm drain stencils, and videos which are available for teachers and youth group leaders. Free comic and coloring books are also available. Books include many activity guides and curriculum ideas for K-12 grades.

Soil and Water Stewardship Materials: Each year, the Middle Republican NRD offers Soil & Water Stewardship materials to area churches and schools at no cost. These materials include activity booklets for K-6 students, bookmarks, posters, and guides for educators and church leaders. Each year a new theme is chosen for Stewardship Week. Soil and Water Stewardship Week is celebrated annually from the last Sunday in April to the first Sunday in May.

Poster Contest: Fifth grade students around the district have the opportunity to participate in the Middle Republican NRD Poster Contest each year. Three posters are selected as finalists, according to the theme for the year, and are forwarded on to the National Association of Conservation Districts Auxiliary State Poster Contest. Over the years several MRNRD students have won the state contest and have had their posters on display at the NACD Auxiliary National Poster Contest. In 2001 McCook Central Elementary student Whitney Carter won the 4-6 grade competition at the state level Students are given a cash award and a certificate. See this year's contest finalists.

Arbor Day Programs: Trees are given to district schools, students, and community groups in observance of Arbor Day each year. This program is dependant on the number of trees available each year.

Outdoor Classrooms: The district will work with schools and community groups in the establishment of outdoor classrooms as materials and funds are available.

2008 Poster Contest
Information will be posted when available.

Presentations & Workshops
NRD staff are available for a wide variety of classroom presentations on conservation and natural resources topics. The NRD can facilitate teacher training workshops for Project WET, Project WILD, and Project Learning Tree.