Programs
SWCD Poster Contest
Do you have a creative side? Do you enjoy coloring, drawing and creating? Then take a look at our SWCD Poster Contest!
The SWCD Poster Contest is currently underway and there are two ways to participate. 1) Through your classroom teacher and your school. We are currently accepting classrooms to participate and the SWCD will provide the poster board for each student to create their masterpiece. 2) You can participate on your own and submit your posters digitally (see info below).
This year, students can create their poster at home and then submit it digitally (.jpeg image) for judging. The process is simple! Design your artwork on whatever size paper you choose (can be a sheet of 8.5x11 plain white paper if you choose), make sure your name IS NOT on the front design and take a picture of it with your phone or digital camera. Make sure you have good lighting and you are looking at the artwork straight on for a good quality picture. Make sure to fill out the entry form from link below (fillable pdf) and save it. See the rules link for information on how to submit your entry and the deadline for submission! It’s that simple!
Forestry Resources for Classrooms and Individuals:
Each year the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) sponsors a national poster contest connected to their stewardship theme. The Poster Contest it open to all public, private and homeschooled students in Vermillion County. To reach the national contest, students begin by participating in a local contest and this year Vermillion County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) with the assistance of our Conservation Partners are sponsoring a local contest.
First and second prize winners will be selected from each designated category. Our Conservation Partners are sponsoring the local prizes of $20 for first place and $10 for second place in each grade level category. First and second prize winning posters will be on display during the Vermillion Co. Fair in late June and prizes will be awarded on Tuesday night of Fair at 6:30pm at the SWCD Booth.
The posters of the first prize winners will be forwarded to the Indiana District Employee Association for judging at the State level. If a poster is chosen as a winner at the state level the poster will then be forwarded to the National Assn. of Conservation Districts for judging. Cash awards are the common prize at those levels.
Augmented Reality Sandbox
Interactive. Dynamic. 3D.
What is an Augmented Reality Sandbox?
A hands-on sandbox exhibit combined with 3D visualization applications created by researchers at UC Davis.
Simply mold the sand by hand and the landscape comes to life! The sand is augmented in real-time with an elevation color map, topographic contour lines, and simulated water.
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.
How does it work?
The AR Sandbox uses a computer projector and a motion-sensing input device (an Xbox 360 Kinect camera), which are mounted above the sand. The camera is calibrated to detect the 3D landscape of the sand and the height of the “raincloud” to start the rain. Open source software that was developed by UC Davis in California instantly simulates and projects the topographic and hydrologic model as users create landscapes and move water in the hands-on sandbox.
The ARSand box is available to any Vermillion Co school, youth group (4-H club, scouting group, homeschool group, etc) or civic group free of charge. For more information on using the ARSandbox, contact the office at vermillion@iaswcd.org
Acknowledgements
The Vermillion County Soil and Water Conservation District was able to purchase this educational equipment through a grant from the Subaru of Indiana Foundation.
The Augmented Reality Sandbox was developed by the UC Davis W.M. Keck Center for Active Visualization in the Earth Sciences (KeckCAVES, ), supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DRL 1114663.
For more information, please visit https://arsandbox.ucdavis.edu.
Producer Roundtable
The Producer Roundtables are designed to bring producers together and discuss current topics and or trends that are affecting agriculture locally. A portion of topics presented to these peer groups are initiated by SWCD staff, while many of the topics are suggested by producers themselves. Producer Roundtables are held 5 to 6 times per year and alternate between Parke and Vermillion Counties in order to be accessible to a majority of producers. The varied topics throughout the season allow for flexibility in attendance from the producers. In many cases, these meetings become a mentor/mentee type atmosphere among the participants. The Producer Roundtables also allow the SWCDs to bring updates to the groups in a timely fashion, as well as get feedback on information producers are interested in. Feedback on these meetings has been overwhelmingly positive. Producers have shared with staff that because of these peer group opportunities, they have been able to connect with neighbors and discuss their operations in a new and positive way.
KINDERGARTEN DAY ON THE FARM
in early May, kindergarteners from around the county rotate through ten different stations learning where their food comes from and how to protect resources like the soil and their water.
SWCD Conservation Director, Eric Shideler, noted “this is our first chance to educate students on where their food actually comes from”. Even though we are a rural community, Shideler recognizes that awareness of food origin is something that continually needs to be visited. “If a kindergartner can tell a parent or teacher that the milk they drink at lunchtime comes from a cow, we have done our job with this event”, Shideler stated.
Stations include dairy, sheep, swine, water quality, soil health, grain production, turkeys, chickens, dairy goats and bees.
At the end of the day, students are treated to “goodie” bags filled with promotional items from commodity groups around Indiana. Coloring books, soy crayons, granola bars and even popcorn are given to help reinforce Indiana’s impact on agriculture and food production. The event is held each May for all county Kindergarteners.
The SWCD would like to thank the 4-H Fairboard and Purdue Extension for assisting in the use of their facility for this event.
Click image to enlarge
Women4theLand
Women4theLand (W4L) is a partnership of agricultural and natural resource conservation agencies and organizations working together to provide information, networking, education and resources to Indiana women landowners and farmers.
Our objective is to empower women to make good science-based land use and land management decisions that lead to more viable communities and stronger farm enterprises while improving and sustaining the quality of our natural resources.
W4L uses the learning circle model to provide information in a comfortable, informal setting where women learn from professional conservationists as well as from each other. The meetings are facilitated in a way that builds knowledge and confidence. Participants are considered the “experts” on their own production, farmland and conservation needs, and are encouraged to speak about their own experiences and goals rather than simple listen to a presentation.
W4L provides education and information about conservation management practices, new technology, communicating effectively with tenants, financial assistance programs, where to find assistance and more.
Our participants include beginning or established farmers, experienced landowners with several tenant farmers or new to management. They represent all types of farming from traditional crops to organic to livestock to truck crops to forestland. Everyone is welcome.
Regardless of their background, these women all share a commitment to environmental, economic, and social sustainability and conservation learning circles help them translate their values into action.
Check our our “Events” section for details on upcoming Women’s Learning Circle opportunities.
The SWCD provides educational programs on various Soil Health Topics and Demonstrations. If your class or civic organization would like to learn more about Soil Health and it’s effects on our environment, contact our office to set up a time.