Moose Droppings

Educating Beaufort County Young People on the Importance of Wetlands

Oct 31, 2006 @ 08:55 pm by Moose

When most stories you hear about education these days are usually about what’s wrong or how short the funding is it’s great to see a program like this. The importance of wetlands especially for the health of the environment and the coast is a topic that may be easily over looked in the education of young people. Well Beaufort County Soil and Water Conservation District for many years has been partnering with Goose Creek State Park to educate 4th graders on the importance wetlands plays in a healthy environment.

To ensure the survival of North Carolina’s natural beauty, the Beaufort Soil and Water Conservation District has, for 22 years helped to educate children about the environment in which they live.

“This program helps to give students an understanding of North Carolina’s biodiversity and teaches them about the importance of wetlands,” Becky McRoy, education coordinator for the Beaufort County soil and water district, said in an interview Monday.

McRoy has a particular interest in the program because she taught fourth grade at Chocowinity Primary School and Bath Elementary School for a total of 28 years.

The 22nd annual Environmental Field Days event, for Beaufort County fourth graders, will be held at Goose Creek State Park Oct. 31 through Nov. 3.

The more than 600 fourth-grade students from nine elementary schools in Beaufort County will participate. The program is designed to educate students about wetland ecology and function. Students learn how wetlands affect humans and eastern North Carolina’s natural environment, according to the Goose Creek State Park Web site.

“This is a great program,” McRoy said. “I loved it when I was teaching, and the kids always enjoy it. It is good to catch them at a young age while students are still interested in learning about wildlife.”

Six learning stations will be set up in the Environmental Education Center and park area at Goose Creek covering forestry, marine fisheries, soil and water conservation, soils, wetlands and wildlife. The district and Goose Creek State Park co-sponsor this event with the help of station leaders who volunteer their time.

“We try to provide science-based information,” Rodney Woolard, district conservationist said. “We want to expose fourth graders to environmental concerns and make school kids aware of their environment.”

Washington Daily News

It’s important to educated the generations coming behind us so they too will see the importance of sound management practices to protect the wetlands.