Envirothon

Each year the Root River SWCD, along with nine partnering SWCDs,
sponsor this educational, competitive event designed for teams of
junior high school students and high school students in SE Minnesota.

At each station, teams composed of five students answer
questions on the subject. Since the event takes place outdoors, questions involve actual contact with natural resources, rather than a “paper and pencil” approach. After finishing at one station, the team moves on to the next station, approximately 25 minutes is spent at each station.

An oral presentation is also part of the day’s activities. A situation is given to the students approximately two months prior to the event. This allows them ample time to research the situation and answer the questions asked in the form of a presentation.  The day of the Envirothon the students will have seven to ten minutes to make their
oral presentation. The oral presentation problem is the same as the one used at the State Envirothon.

The top three teams from the Area VII competition advance to the State Envirothon.

Sixth Grade Environmental Day

Is an annual event originated by Caledonia resident, Terry
Nelson, who at the time was a teacher at Spring Grove
Public School. He started the outdoor educational event approximately 36 years ago with his sixth graders. They
camped overnight for the first three years of the event’s
history. Gary Glasrud, a sixth grade teacher from Spring
Grove, MN, assisted him with the event. Nelson then
coordinated with Root River Soil & Water Conservation
District to take over the event.  At that point it was made
a one day event for all sixth graders in Houston County.
Since the start of the event, approximately 7,500 students
have been through this program.

The Houston County schools that attend annually include
Caledonia Middle School, St. Mary's School, St. John's
Lutheran School all in Caledonia, MN; Spring Grove Public
School; Houston Elementary School; St. Peter's Elementary
in Hokah, MN; Crucifixion Elementary School and La Crescent-Hokah Middle School both in La Crescent, MN.

This educational day is hosted at Winnebago Springs. It is nestled in the hills just outside Caledonia, MN along Winnebago Creek and offers students an ideal setting for hands-on environmental learning.

Students rotate through eight interactive stations. Each session focused on a different topic, giving students a chance to explore a variety of environmental issues and skills.  Topics include soils; ATV safety and the role of a conservation officer; learning to live with rattlesnakes; aquatic invasive species; wildlife; quail habitat; groundwater, geology and fossils; and electro-shocking fish streams. The volunteer presenters provide the students with a fun and memorable hands-on learning opportunity focusing on our natural resources and conservation.