News & Events
We have several environmental and conservation events throughout the year for middle schools and high school students and for other citizens of Davidson County to encourage them to learn about our natural resources, conservation, and to become good stewards of our community. Our events are geared to stimulate, reinforce and enhance interest in the environment and out state's natural resources.
Education
Conservation education receives a high priority. Sixth grade students are involved in the annual essay and poster contest. Plaques, trophies, certificates and money are rewarded to the winner of each contest. The county essay and poster winning entries goes on the Area VIII competition, and the Area VIII winning entries are entered in the state essay and poster competition for a chance to win monetary awards.
Rising juniors or seniors with special interests and aptitudes in areas of conservation and natural resources are sponsored for a week of supervised study during the Resource Conservation Workshop (RCW) help on the campus of North Carolina State University. The RCW event is a week of intensive study focusing on the management of natural resources and requires student participation in a wide range of conservation topics.
Participants receive professional guidance from natural resource professional to win cash awards and scholarship money. Students learn about:
- Air quality
- Fisheries management
- Forest management
- Non-agricultural uses for soils
- Soil characteristics
- Soil conservation
- Water quality
- Watershed management
- Wildlife
The Future Farmers of America (FFA) Land Judging Contest winners are awarded prizes as well.
Envirothon
Middle school and high school teams may compete in the Southern Envirothon Program, which is a competitive event for a five member team to compete in a natural resources knowledge and ecology field day against other middle school and high school teams from 12 other counties in Area VIII. The envirothon is open to ecology clubs, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, FFA Chapters, 4-H Clubs, home study groups, environmental groups, Vo-Ag groups or any group interested in competing.
The competition in a one day event where students will have an informative presentation and are tested on their knowledge in the areas of aquatics, current environmental issues, forestry, soils, and wildlife. The top 7 teams will advance on the State Envirothon Competition. The winner of the State Envirothon will proceed on to the National Envirothon Competition.
Tours
Field Crop and Conservation Farm Tour is held every summer and is designed for interested adults to view the latest agriculture innovations and farming practices. We travel to several sites within the County and is free of charge.