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Education Programming
Union SWCD offers several educational presentations and models for children of various ages.
The Union SWCD education models are available to Union County educators and organization leaders (4-H, FFA, home school groups, Lions Clubs, etc.) to utilize in their classrooms, meetings, and gatherings free of charge. If you do not see something that fits your needs, contact our office, and we can try to work something out!
EnviroScape Education Models - All Ages
The EnviroScape series of portable models dramatically demonstrates water pollution concepts and their prevention. We have three different models available. Watershed/Nonpoint Source Pollution, Hazardous Materials, and Waste Management (Landfill & Recycling).
Watershed/Nonpoint Source Model
The popular model provides a hands-on, interactive demonstration of the sources and effects of water pollution – and allows you to demonstrate ways to prevent it.
Hazardous Prevention & Clean-Up Model
The model lets you explore what happens when hazardous materials and waste are improperly discharged, disposed or accidentally spilled on the land – and ways to clean up and prevent this from happening.
Waste Management (Landfill & Recycling) Model
The model depicts proper waste management practices and how they are designed to prevent harm to groundwater, surface water, or air.
Augmented Reality (AR) Sandbox
This tool combines 3D visualization applications with a hands-on sandbox exhibit to teach earth science concepts. The AR sandbox allows users to create topographic models by shaping real sand, which is then augmented in real-time by an elevation color map, topographic contour lines, and simulated water. The system teaches geographic, geologic, and hydrologic concepts such as how to read a topography map, the meaning of contour lines, watersheds, catchment areas, levees, etc.
Groundwater Simulator - Middle & High School
The groundwater simulator shows the flow and contamination in sand and gravel aquifers typical of valley fill and/or glacial-deposit geologic settings. It shows the interaction between wells in unconfined and semi-confined aquifers, including the interaction between ground and surface waters. Wells are located at varying depths to simulate the various types of wells, from a shallow homeowner well in an unconfined aquifer to a deep commercial well cased in a semi-confined aquifer. Contamination plume flow is accurately simulated and shows how some wells can become contaminated while others do not. The model is a valuable tool for helping visualize the movement of groundwater and pollutants through underground materials.
Stream Table - All Ages
This display, the Streamulator, demonstrates stream systems, how they function, and the effects that humans can have on stream quality. Stream formation, bank erosion, deposition, and land use issues are concepts covered. Requires electricity!
The Lorax - Earth Day (for young children) Anyone can appreciate it!
In this Dr. Seuss book, children learn what happens when The Onceler’s greed takes too much from the forest of the beautiful Truffula Trees, affecting everything that depends on them. The environmental story is interactive and illustrates the interdependence of life and the consequences of our behavior. Children enter a Dr. Seuss tent with life-sized scenery and help to hang up characters and images from the story as it is being read. A crowd favorite!
Specialized Programming
We have worked with educators of local school districts to assist with some activities including, chemical water testing and seining.
Passport to Fishing - All Ages
Passport to Fishing is a program developed by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, and the Division of Wildlife uses its curriculum as a beginning angler program. This program teaches skills, techniques, and information, allowing any novice angler to learn to fish. The program consists of educational stations focusing on hands-on participation in four areas. The stations cover the basics of angling in casting, fishing knots and rigging, fish habitat and handling, and local information.
Outdoor Education Stations
The outdoor education trailer allows children to work on their shooting skills in archery, slingshot, and pellet shooting.
Coloring Books
Want to learn about soil health and have fun at the same time? The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has created coloring books to teach kids about soil health! Additional Soil Education information can be found here.
Click the links to download and print a free PDF copy, or contact our office to get physical copies!
The Union Soil and Water Conservation District and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibit discrimination in their programs based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status.
