Clinton County Conservation District holds annual 6th Grade Field Day Event at County Fair Grounds

By Emily Wright

MILL HALL, PA – The Clinton County Conservation District is holding its 38th annual 6th grade field day at the Clinton County Fairgrounds this week. The two-day event gives students from multiple schools in the area an opportunity to learn about natural resources and resource management from various state and local agencies.

A group of 85 sixth-grade students from Central Mountain Middle School and Lock Haven Catholic School attended the event on Tuesday, and another 65 students are expected on Wednesday.

Students heard presentations from the Penn State Extension, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the Waterways Conservation Fish and Boat Commission, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Wayne Township Landfill, and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources and Conservation Service. Presentations from these agencies help students to better understand environmental issues and solutions in Clinton County, as well as get information about potential career paths in conservation.

Students rotated throughout the fairgrounds to watch presentations and even get hands-on experience at the exhibits.

The Penn State Extension exhibit featured a 4-H presentation that gave students an overview of dairy farming in Pennsylvania and explained basic dairy terminology that is often used in the field.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) presentation allowed students to identify different types of trees in our state and learn about tree conservation.

An officer from the Waterways Conservation Fish and Boat Commission detailed what working in his field is like and explained that his job is “part law enforcement and part fishing”.

A presentation provided by a soil conservation scientist from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) displayed soil samples for students to examine while explaining the importance of soil conservation.

“Recycling education” was presented to students by The Wayne Township Landfill.

A hydrogeologist from the Department of Environmental Protection spoke about watersheds and underground water testing while displaying groundwater models.

On Wednesday groups of 6th graders from other schools will be attending the field day. Sara Henninger, a Resource Conservationist from the Clinton County Conservation District, coordinated the field day and thanked all school districts for coming out to learn more about their agencies.