Noble County Conservation District Sponsors Outdoor Classroom at CCC Lake

Chad Webb, Oklahoma State University Extension Service, used a stream trailer to show the effects of water erosion on stream channels.

Staff from the Noble County Conservation District and Perry NRCS Field Service Center teamed up to present a program called Life Bracelets, representing the elements needed to sustain life.

On Sept. 30, 2009, the Noble County Conservation District and Perry Field Service Office of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service hosted an Outdoor Classroom for third-grade students at the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Lake in Perry. (The dam is Upper Black Bear 61A, a flood control structure.) Over 180 students plus parents and teachers attended from Billings, Morrison, Frontier and Perry. There were 10 educational stations located about the lake consisting of the following:  

• Steve Alspach, NRCS soil scientist, presented soils information.
• Jillianne Zweiacker, Central Rural Electric Cooperative, discussed electrical safety.
• Jeff Pennington, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, talked about whitetail deer.
• Larry Dodd, Burlington Northern Railroad, explained Operation Lifesaver  - Safety Around Trains and Train Tracks.
• Dan Stidham, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, discussed trees and their benefits.
• John Hendricks, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, gave a presentation on animal skins and skulls.
• Staff from the Noble County Conservation District and Perry NRCS Field Service Center teamed up to present a program called Life Bracelets, representing the elements needed to sustain life.
• Chad Webb, Oklahoma State University Extension Service, used a stream trailer to show the effects of water erosion on stream channels.
• Samantha Ephgrave, /Oklahoma State University Extension Service, presented an Aqua Time demonstration, showing how to clean up water.
• Everett Taylor, Honey-Do Apiary, discussed bees and the effects they have on nature.  

Lunch was provided and served by First Bank & Trust Company of Perry.