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Dave Heineman, GovernorBoard of TrusteesDistrict I |
The summer is almost over already and the September 2nd deadline for grant applications will be here before you know it and the Public Information and Education (PIE) Mini-grant deadline is September 19. Our third quarter board meeting was held in Alma on July 25th and we toured some vegetation management projects the day before on the Republican River. We joined the Riparian Vegetation Management Task Force for the tour with an update from Merle Illian describing the herbicide treatments, deep disking, debris removal and island burning using funds provided by the Legislature through LB 701. Enjoy the remaining summer and for those of you that relish Husker football or volleyball, the season will be here in a few weeks. Mark A. Brohman
The Trust would like to remind all applicants that the deadline for submission of General and Recognition Grants is September 2, 2008 (Tuesday). Applicants are advised to submit their proposals as soon as possible. The deadline for PIE Grant Application on the other hand is September 19, 2008. For any questions or information, call Lisa Beethe at 402-471-5541 or email: l.beethe@net.ne.gov Application forms are available on the Nebraska Environmental Trust web site at: www.environmentaltrust.org
The Nebraska Environmental Trust Board and staff accompanied the
A Noxious Weed Tour held in June, drew a lot of attention with over 75 people attending the Dixon County event. The day consisted of a morning tour that included stops at four sites where 24 herbicide plots were established between 2000 and May of 2008 on Leafy Spurge, Musk and Plumeless thistle and Canada thistle. Attendees were able to see first hand the results of the different herbicides used on the various plots. Following a steak lunch a release of biological control insects was made on Leafy Spurge. Funded in part by the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund the effort is a fairly new approach being used by the Northeast Nebraska Weed Management Area in an attempt to control Leafy Spurge. Doug Smith of Dixon County Weed Control demonstrated the process of collecting and counting the insects to redistribute in other problem areas.
In an effort to learn more about effective controls for these noxious and invasive weeds landowners were very willing to allow these test plots and public tours on their land. This was the 7th tour held at some of these plots. The tour was sponsored by the following entities: Northeast Nebraska Weed Management Area, Dixon County Weed Control, Dow AgroSciences’ senior sales representative Lonnie Wann, and Doug Haller, vegetation management specialist for BASF.
According to the National Science Standards, “Learning science is something students do, not something that is done to them” and “Science is for all students.” These are the premises behind the Greenhouse project at Beatrice High School funded by a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET). The project is the basis of inquiry learning not only in the regular classroom, but also including our special needs students. Students take a more active role in their science classes when given the opportunity to ask questions and explore natural areas of interest. The greenhouse project began in April 2006 with the awarding of a two-year grant to Beatrice High School (BHS) by the NET totaling $54,634 to construct a 30’ x 60’ free-standing greenhouse. From the grant’s inception, this has been a project that involved students, parents, staff, and the community. Construction began in June of 2006. As with all projects, there were a few stumbling blocks to overcome. The first was realizing the slope selected for the building necessitated professional construction of the foundation and floor. Once this was accomplished, the majority of the actual construction was completed by students, parents, BHS staff and members of the community that donated time and materials to complete the project. Approximately 3000 hours (valued at $18,900) of volunteer labor was donated during the course of the past two years for this project. Donations to the project from the community totaled $12,588.35 and in-kind funds from the BHS Science Club and Beatrice Public Schools totaled $27,787.49. The “official” opening celebration of the new facility was held on December 8, 2006—an event featured on the local KWBE radio station and attended by the community during half-time of the first basketball game of the season. The greenhouse has provided an abundance of plant and animal life to enhance our science studies. Botany students have an abundance of plants and occasionally insect pests to observe, grow, and identify. The growing of poinsettias, geraniums, and bedding plants have provided a moneymaking project and the opportunity for community service projects such as providing chrysanthemums and poinsettias for area nursing homes at Thanksgiving and Christmas by the Science Club members. Advanced independent study research projects such as the effect of algae on water retention in soil, the symbiotic relationship of fungus (yeast) and plant roots to overcome petroleum pollution, and the transpiration rate of transgenic corn plants were conducted in the greenhouse this past year resulting in two bronze and a silver medal at the Nebraska Junior Academy of Science regional competition. The silver medallist (corn transpiration project) advanced to state competition and finished in the top five at the state level which qualifies the student to attend the National Junior Academy of Science in Chicago next February. AP Chemistry students conduct water analysis activities on the Big Blue River during the spring and fall measuring turbidity, dissolved oxygen nitrates, ammonium, chloride, pH, and temperature parameters.
The special needs teacher was anxious to provide hands-on science opportunities for his students as well. An integral part of the grant revolved around the recycling of newspapers from the library and discarded food in the school cafeteria via vermicomposting using red wriggler worms. The students were each provided with a Worm-Away® growth container and set up their “worm ranches.” Students track the number of pounds of paper and food that is recycled using the worms. To date, approximately 900 pounds of newspapers and 1500 pounds of discarded food have been recycled through the vermicomposting project. On November 17, 2006, members of the Science Club and special needs students traveled to Lincoln to accept the Recycling Educator of the Year Award from the Nebraska State Recycling Agency in recognition of their efforts. The BHS Science Club has also been the recipients of grants from the Nebraska State Arboretum (NSA) (funded by the NET). The first project, P.O.N.D.S.I.T.E. (Providing Opportunities for Natural Discoveries in Scientific Explorations of the Environment), was a combination outdoor education classroom complete with pond, butterfly garden and prairie restoration area. The second project, P.L.A.N.T.S (Prairie Landscapes and Natural Tree Sites) built upon the first by adding shrubs, trees, native perennials and perennials from NSA’s Great Plants program that are especially suited to this region. The site was designed with year-round interest in mind. Spring brings the flowering of bulbs, redwood, serviceberry and chokeberry. Summer and fall see the blooming of perennials. Grasses maintain interest into the winter months. The completion of the greenhouse has enabled the students to grow more plants to add to the school arboretum. In addition to the sciences, art, social studies, Spanish and English instructors have also utilized the site in their lesson plans. The best way for a community project to be successful is to include the students in the planning and allowing them to take ownership of the process. For instance, the two-pond system designed by the Science Club students could have easily been dug using machines. However, digging it by hand allowed the students to take ownership, have fun in the process, and resulted in members of the community working together to create a place of beauty, enjoyment and relaxation. Building the greenhouse is a memory that students will never forget. The students took ownership of the project and got to meet and work with members of the community—who in turn took ownership in the school. Part of the success of a project like this lies in sparking the imagination of the students. Because a project like this had not been done before at the high school, it was hard for the students to visualize what possibilities lay in the barren clay site behind the school. Providing the “vision” can be accomplished in many ways. Using the internet to research is an excellent way to begin. Students can see other projects and start to think about what they would like to see in their project. Brainstorming at a science club meeting led to the formation of a committee to research the types of plants that would grow well in Nebraska. Students also came up with other ideas to improve the site (including the building of the greenhouse) and the Science Club recently voted to construct a bridge over the stream between the two ponds to add to the appeal of the water feature in the arboretum. Another component is asking other members of the community for help. The Stuppy Greenhouse representative, Greg LaHue, provided a preliminary drawing of the greenhouse and exemplary support when questions arose. Dr. Jay Fitzgerald, from the UNL Horticulture department, provided expert advice in all aspects of greenhouse management. Jeff Jensby of Southeast Community College in Beatrice was instrumental in the construction of the basic greenhouse structure. Brad Gabriel and his Industrial Arts students in his construction classes installed the Lexan covering, fans, vents, doors, and glazing. They also put the tables together and installed the poles for the mechanized swamp cooler flap. They laid the sidewalk to the building and the concrete pad for the storage shed for greenhouse materials that they later constructed. Local businessmen put in the plumbing and electrical work, donating much of their labor. Our local Earl May Nursery & Garden Center, along with the one in Shenandoah, provided a free preliminary drawing of the arboretum based on the ideas of the students. They also provided labor and pool maintenance and donated plants and other educational materials. Others in the community donated rocks for the pond, wildflower and grass seed, mulch, soil and river rock. The Beatrice Daily Sun has been a terrific source of publicity for our projects—increasing interest and participation. It is important to simply ask, and to remember to say “thank you!” Even during adversity, the community rallied to support our efforts. When our first poinsettia crop was destroyed after vandals turned off the gas to the greenhouse furnaces, members of the community rallied to our aid. The Beatrice Daily Sun and the Lincoln Journal Star publicized the catastrophe and the Science Club experienced what we called the “Poinsettia Miracle.” The local Earl May managed by Terry Brauch, the UNL Horticulture Club, Cutt’s Floral and Campbell’s Nursery in Lincoln, Cabela’s bank and anonymous members of the Beatrice community supplied the Science Club with poinsettia plants and money to replace those destroyed. Although it was hard to understand why anyone would want to do such a mean thing, the outpouring of support was a valuable message about generosity, compassion and the true meaning of the spirit of Christmas to our students. At Beatrice, we are blessed with a supportive administration that sees the importance of these projects. Principal Jason Sutter says the projects have “brought an excitement and renewed enthusiasm for science” to Beatrice High School. The custodial staff has greatly helped in maintaining our projects over the summer. The students continue to maintain the site on scheduled workdays throughout the year and work in the greenhouse during the school year. Approximately 3000 plants have been raised and donated to nursing homes, planted in the school arboretum, or sold to members of the community. Roughly $4000 in net sales has been generated for subsequent purchase of plants and growing supplies. This project has touched over half of the high school population. Approximately 400 students have had access to the greenhouse for instructional purposes via Biology, General Biology, Botany, Construction, Special Topics in Research, special needs classes, and Science Club. It will continue to impact the lives of students at Beatrice High School for years to come. Thank you for allowing us this tremendous opportunity. (This article was submitted by Joan Christen, Ph.D, Beatrice High School Science Instructor, Science Club Co-Sponsor, and Science Curriculum Co-Chair)
Congratulations to Mayor Chris Beutler and the City of Lincoln for being recognized in the spring issue of the Mayors Water Council newsletter. It is the newsletter of the Mayors Council of the United States Conference of Mayors. Mayor Beutler authored a one-page article that featured Lincoln's work at Holmes Lake, the rain garden and barrel project and no-phosphorus fertilizer project. The Nebraska Environmental Trust was just one of the many partners that included the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, the City and others. These projects and others demonstrate the City of Lincoln's strong commitment to the protecting the environment.
If you know someone who would like to receive Resource every month, they can add their name to our e-mail list using the form at www.environmentaltrust.org You can also send an e-mail to Sheila Johnson to subscribe. Do you have an event you would like to announce in RESOURCE? Send your event details to Sheila Johnson and we will include it in our next mailing. |
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