Thanks for coming to our prior workshops:The American Chestnut Workshop |
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 Presenter: Stacy Daniels, PhD Environmental HistorianWhen: Monday, March 23, 2009 Time: Noon – 1:30pm (Free Lunch Included!) Where: Conservation District Office (Get directions) Dr. Daniels is Chair of Education & Communications Committee for the Crystal Lake & Watershed Association and Director of Research Ingenuity Indoor Environmental Quality Air of Midland. He will talk about the demise and the resurrection of the chestnut tree in Michigan. Click here for the event flyer: The American Chestnut Workshop. Reservations appreciated (231) 882-4391 or benziecd@charterinternet.com |
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The Energy-Efficient Home |
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Presenter: Jim Barnes When: Tuesday February 24, 2009 Time: 12 noon – 1:30pm (Free Lunch Included!) Where: Conservation District Office (Get directions)Barnes is General Manager of Eco-Building Products (a green building products company) and an expert on energy efficiency. ** Please see our flier for more information: The Energy-Efficient Home |
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Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation (GTRCF) JOHN N. BARNES FUND BENEFITS PLATTE RIVER STUDENTS
Mucky riverbanks, and clothes, are no longer a limitation on fun for students at Platte River Elementary.
In the winter of 2007, the Benzie Conservation District applied for and received a $500 grant from the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation’s John N. Barnes Environmental Education Endowment Fund to bolster one of its educational programs. “Experiencing Aquatic Insects” has been part of the sixth grade curriculum at Platte River Elementary for the past two years.
During late May and early June students get a basic introduction to aquatic insects and their life cycles. After some in-class work, 
they walk down to the Platte River with nets and trays to observe live specimens. It is often a very muddy environment due to wet spring-time weather.
This spring, the Benzie Conservation District purchased 34 pairs of variously-sized rubber knee boots with the grant funds. These boots allowed students the opportunity to enjoy the field trip without ruining clothing and shoes, as had happened in the past.
“Everyone was a mess last year, some from head to toe. We had mud and water tracked up and down the halls of the school,” remembered Kyle Axtell, Benzie Conservation District. “It appears that students, teachers and custodians alike have found the boots to be a great improvement to the program”.
“Experiencing Aquatic Insects” is offered as a supplement to the Benzie Fishery Coalition’s “Salmon in the Classroom” program. The students had spent all year learning about and raising Chinook salmon in their classrooms.
In the future, the rubber boots will be available for a wide array of educational uses. Axtell encourages teachers from both Benzie Central and Frankfort-Elberta School Districts to make use of this new resource. Other organizations offering non-profit educational programs may also inquire.
The Benzie Conservation District is a non-profit local unit of government that promotes responsible use of natural resources in our community by providing leadership, information and services to the residents of Benzie County. Community support and funding is vital to the success of the District’s outreach and education efforts.
Many thanks go to the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation’s John N. Barnes Environmental Education Endowment Fund for making this resource available to Benzie County’s students. For more information on programs and services provided by the Benzie Conservation District, visit www.benziecd.org or call 231-882-4391.