Vandalia Lake Day 2010

Vandalia Lake Day was held again this year - just like it has been for the past few years - for the 6th graders in the Vandalia Middle School. It is like what we do at Conservation Field Days except we deal more with issues about Vandalia Lake. This year the presenters were: Watersheds - Tony Pals, RC, Fayette County SWCD, Conservation Jeopardy - Jamie Elmore, U of I Extension, Wildlife - Bob Hammel, IDNR, Water Safety - Annie Hickman & Jeremy Logan, ACOE, Water Quality - Margaret Fertaly & Kent Johnson, IEPA, Snakes - Shelly Huels & Kim Hammel, ACOE, Rain Simulator - Denise Willenborg, AC, Effingham County SWCD, Recycling - John Sanders, Evan Strader and Katie Strader, and Soils - Ken Gotsch, NRCS, Soil Scientist. I believe very strongly in conservation education and, when you can teach kids without them even knowing it, that’s even better. I think that’s what days like this do! We have to begin teaching the youth because, as most adults know, it is really hard to change once you're set in your ways. One thing about planning a day like this is wondering what the weather is going to be like. For the past couple of years it has been a really wet spring, but we have been very lucky and this year we were once again on the lucky. It rained the night before but was an extremely gorgeous day to have the students at the lake.   I know it is a lot of work and time from their busy schedules for the presenters to prepare for the presentations and to spend an entire day at the lake teaching, but if we don't spend time teaching them the importance of protecting our natural resources now it may be too late later.

 

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