Environmental Education and Outreach

 The Virginia Envirothon, a recognized outreach program supported by the state legislature in code, is a natural resources competition through which high school students around the Commonwealth compete by demonstrating their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management. In preparation for the event, teams of students spend the year studying soils, forestry, aquatics, wildlife, and a current specific environmental issue. Students also apply their knowledge of these topics and problem solving skills through an oral presentation in which they solve real-life environmental problems. The 2023-2024 current topic is “Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future”. To find out more about the Virginia Envirothon visit: www.vaswcd.org/Envirothon. To access 2023-2024 Envirothon competition online resources go to: https://vaswcd.org/additional-study-resources/

For several decades, the Blue Ridge SWCD hosts an Annual Farm Tour highlighting local agriculture and conservation practices. Each year features Franklin County, Henry County or Roanoke City/Roanoke County. Roanoke City and Roanoke County were featured at the 2023 Farm Tour. Stops included: Boone Tractor, Fishburn Mansion’s Urban Forestry Practices, C & F Farms, Rockydale Quarries and Blue Cow Ice Cream.

A gracious “Thank You” to our 2023 Annual Farm Tour Sponsors:

Angle Hardware, Bank of Botetourt, Berger Farm, Dale & Daniel Angle, DeShazo Oil Company, Exchange Milling Company, Four Oaks Farms LLC, Harvester Performance Center, Ippy’s Restaurant & Lounge, Land & Farm LLC, Melvin’s Farm to Fork, New Dawn Acres, Rockingham Co-Op (Wirtz), Rocky Mount Lifestyle Health Center, Seven Oaks Landscapes & Hardscapes, Shelton & Alderson Insurance Agency, The Growing Place, White Horse Farm, and Windy Gap Apiary.

STIC is a hands-on environmental education program that educates students on the importance of streamside vegetation, referred to as a riparian buffer, primarily for the positive impact it has on water quality. Riparian buffers keep our rivers and streams healthy by reducing runoff and bank erosion and they also provide habitat for wildlife. Streamside vegetation not only benefits water quality and wildlife, but also people. Streamside Trees in the Classroom encourages each of us to become better stewards of our most valuable resource, water, starting by planting trees along streams.

For several decades the Virginia Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts has sponsored a week long summer conservation camp in July for Virginia high school students (currently enrolled in grades 9-12) on the campus of Virginia Tech. The program focuses on hands-on and outdoor instruction, bringing together about 60 interested students for a week of learning about Virginia’s natural resources from conservation professional and faculty from Virginia Tech.

Compost Workshop: How does your garden grow? Learn how to develop compost that can be used as a soil amendment or as amendment to grow plants by constructing your own tumbler-style composter. Please bring your own power drill, drill bits (1/4”, ½” and a small drill bit to prepare hole for wood screw) and a Phillips head drill bit for wood screws. Remember to have adequate transportation to haul your finished project home that will be 3.5’deep x 31”wide x 4.6’ height. Cost: $100/composter

Rain Barrel Workshop: Combining the use of rain barrels with appropriate plant selection and mulching promotes water conservation. Rain barrels benefit your home, garden and community. Each barrel is approximately 53 gallons, 42 inches in height and 24 inches in diameter. Please have the proper transportation to take your barrel (s) home. Cost: $60/Rain Barrel

How Do I Register:

Register online at www.franklincountyva.gov/parks under the heading of “Life Skills”

The Environmental Literacy Steering Committee for Franklin County Public Schools held their annual Day in the Woods Event in October. The goal was to make a positive impact on third graders in terms of getting outside, conservation, and become stewards of our world. Students were immersed with outdoor opportunities relating to, our environment, nature, conservancy, mental and physical health, and getting outdoors.

Students got hands-on experiences with frogs, turtles, snakes, and fish as well as lots of nature opportunities, Conservation Tic-Tac-Toe, scavenger hunts, and some frisbee golf.

The purpose of the Leo Painter Scholarship is to promote the education of Virginia citizens (residing in Franklin, Henry, Roanoke Counties or the City of Roanoke) in technical fields with natural resource conservation and environmental protection.

To give financial support to students majoring in or showing a strong desire to major in a course curriculum related to natural resource conservation and/or environmental studies.

Individual applicants must be Virginia residents and full-time students enrolled in or who have applied to a college freshman level curriculum. Applicants shall document a class ranking in the top 20% of his or her graduating class or a 3.0 or greater Grade Point Average or appropriate equivalent of individual scholastic achievement. The applicant’s most recent official school transcript must accompany the application. A copy of a school transcript will not be accepted. Applicants shall demonstrate active interest in conservation.

Applications should be made from the county the student resides or attends school within Franklin, Henry, Roanoke Counties or the City of Roanoke. Eligible applicants must reside or attend school within the Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District.

Up to $1,000 scholarship(s) will be given to Blue Ridge SWCD winners. A check(s) will be issued directly to the selected institution of higher education on behalf of the student.

Pictured above is Clair Higgins, 2022 Leo Painter Scholarship recipient. Ms. Higgins is a 2022 honor roll graduate form Patrick Henry High School and Roanoke Valley Governor’s School of Science & Technology. Her interests include promoting leadership in the conservation and natural resources field, with an emphasis in Ecological Restoration. She has extensive experience in community service, Girl Scouts, athletics, taking many diverse advanced placement classes and other college level courses throughout her high school career.

Youth Conservation Leadership Institute (YCLI) is a recognition program for students in 9th- 12th grade that focuses on volunteer service and environmental stewardship. YCLI began as an expansion of Youth Conservation Camp in an effort to keep students engaged in the environmental topics introduced at camp. YCLI offers self-motivated and enthusiastic high school students interested in environmental conservation and stewardship an opportunity to build leadership skills and connect with local mentors involved with environmental issues.

Students in 9th-12th grade may apply to be a part of this program. Program participants are required to complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service with a conservation focus as well as participate in a book discussion and submit required progress reports throughout the year. The hours may be done as part of a single project or a series of projects but all projects must be approved by the YCLI Program Coordinator. YCLI participants work with the YCLI Program Coordinator to come up with a project that the YCLI Participant wants to focus on. Participants must be self-driven individuals able to set their own goals, evaluate their set milestones, and be motivated to move their projects forward. The YCLI Participants are paired with a mentor to help them with their project. Mentors can be Soil & Water Conservation Staff, Natural Resource professionals, 4-H agents, etc.

Statewide group meetings will occur virtually. There will be a Zoom meeting at the beginning of the program to allow all participants a chance to meet and brainstorm for their projects.

The program will conclude with an in-person award and recognition ceremony to be held in June 202f. The recognition program agenda will include time for participants to share their work and hear from key speakers in the conservation field.

YCLI is a unique opportunity for 9th-12th graders to receive experience and engage in networking opportunities to prepare them for future education and Description goes here

The annual Conservation Poster Contest provides kindergarten through twelfth-grade students an opportunity to convey their thoughts about soil, water and related natural resource issues through art. It also highlights the educational outreach efforts of conservation districts and their state conservation associations, auxiliaries and agencies. The poster contest theme follows the annual NACD Stewardship theme.

Each year, the poster contest starts at the district level. Individuals and teachers with questions regarding district contests should contact their local district. To locate your local district contact the VASWCD (www.vaswcd.org). District winners advance to the state level. Only Local Soil & Water Conservation Districts can forward their local winning poster entries to the VASWCD office for consideration at the state level. Local SWCDs need to submit these poster winners to the VASWCD for consideration by October 16, 2023. Virginia state winners will advance to the National Contest. National winners are recognized each year at the NACD Annual Meeting.

Any Girl Scout or Boy Scout who creates a poster and submits it to their local SWCD for judging can earn the VASWCD Poster Contest Patch. When submitting a poster to earn the Poster Contest Patch, be sure to check the box on the entry form. Please note that poster patches are distributed in December each year. For more information about the VASWCD Poster Contest Patch check out our click on the patch or check out our Scout Patch Program. https://vaswcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Poster-Contest-Patch-Leader-Guide-2023.pdf