Inland Empire Resource Conservation District
Youth Education Programs
Click on the categories below to view more information on
Inland Empire Resource Conservation District's Youth Education Programs.
Inland Empire Resource Conservation District's Youth Education Programs.
General Information
Introduction
IERCD educators travel to schools, environmental education centers, libraries, and other community facilities in order to present environmental education programs to students in grades ranging from Pre-Kindergarten to twelfth grade. Currently, all of the below listed programs are available for students in grades Pre K-8, with the Recycle, Reduce, Reuse and Water Use Efficiency Programs available for grades 9-12.
All IERCD education programs are conducted free of charge and are approximately 45-minutes in length, with the programs for Pre-K and Kindergarten lasting 30 minutes. All are designed to meet California State Standards and are grade level appropriate. Lesson plans are available for review upon request.
All IERCD education programs are conducted free of charge and are approximately 45-minutes in length, with the programs for Pre-K and Kindergarten lasting 30 minutes. All are designed to meet California State Standards and are grade level appropriate. Lesson plans are available for review upon request.
Request Education Program
Classroom Environmental Education Programs
Backyard Conservation
Pre K-5: The backyard conservation program teaches students about the plant, insect, and animal habitats around their homes. Each student will learn about how to create an insect and bird-friendly habitat in his or her own backyard as well as make a bird feeder to take home and hang up.
5-8: Students will learn about the bird and insect habitats around their homes as well as on their grounds of their school or community facility. The program includes an insect hunt in a designated outdoor area of the campus, in which participating students will be able to catch, identify, and ultimately release insects using individual or group nets. At the end of the program, students will understand the significance of insects, and will conclude the program by learning about a bird friendly habitat and making a bird feeder.
Growing Native
Pre K-4: The Growing Native program teaches students about the benefits of native plants, including water conservation and wildlife habitat. IERCD educators use seeds, colorful diagrams, and pictures to demonstrate the growth patterns of plants, from seeds to flowers, shrubs, and/or trees. Each student will also plant a seed to take home and grow his or her own California native plant.
5-8: The Growing Native program teaches students about the characteristics of California native plants, and the benefits of their use in landscapes and restoration projects. Students will explore visual aides detailing functions of native plants, and will participate in an activity demonstrating longevity of trees. Finally, each student will plant a seed to take home and grow his or her own plant.
Energy Conservation
K-1: The Energy Conservation program teaches students about is the concept of energy and how it is used. The students will learn what a natural resource is and which of these are renewable and non-renewable in the process of generating energy. The program will finish with a solar car race to demonstrate how solar power works.
2-8: The Energy Conservation program teaches students about is the concept of energy and how it is used. The educator will use a diagram to show students where the natural resources are found and how they are extracted from the earth. They will also learn about alternative forms of energy such as wind and solar energy. The program will also include a solar powered car race outside.
2-8: The Energy Conservation program teaches students about is the concept of energy and how it is used. The educator will use a diagram to show students where the natural resources are found and how they are extracted from the earth. They will also learn about alternative forms of energy such as wind and solar energy. The program will also include a solar powered car race outside.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Pre K-1: The Reduce, Reuse, Recycle program teaches students about the three title concepts through the use of fun and interactive games. They also learn about the important natural resources required to make common products and the ultimate destination for all things not reduced/reused/recycled: landfills!
2-8: The Reduce, Reuse, Recycle program teaches students about the three title concepts, using colorful visual aides and identification of key vocabulary. Following the instructional portion, students learn about the composition of landfills and the time it takes for garbage to break down in them. Students end the activity with a recycling guessing game.
9-12: The Reduce, Reuse, Recycle program teaches students about the three title concepts through a PowerPoint presentation and identification of key vocabulary and concepts. For this age level, the IERCD educator also uses an Enviroscape® landfill model to show the students how a landfill is built and operated, as well as dangers associated with landfills including leaching and air pollution.
Stormwater Pollution
Pre K-5: The Stormwater Pollution program teaches students about the concept of a watershed, focusing on our local watershed where all water drains eventually to the Santa Ana River and ultimately the ocean. Following that discussion, students will learn about contamination of waterways due to stormwater pollution, and the difference between a storm drain and a sewer. The IERCD educator will use an Enviroscape® model to show the students what happens to the water and pollution that flows down a storm drain. Ultimately, students will understand how stormwater pollution affects habitat functionality of riverine and marine environments, including dependent species.
6-8: The Stormwater Pollution program teaches students about the concept of a watershed, focusing on our local watershed where all water drains eventually to the Santa Ana River and ultimately the ocean. The educator will use an Enviroscape® model to show the students what happens to the water and pollution that flows down a storm drain. Ultimately, students will understand the potential impacts of stormwater pollution on riverine and marine habitats and associated species, as well as on our groundwater.
6-8: The Stormwater Pollution program teaches students about the concept of a watershed, focusing on our local watershed where all water drains eventually to the Santa Ana River and ultimately the ocean. The educator will use an Enviroscape® model to show the students what happens to the water and pollution that flows down a storm drain. Ultimately, students will understand the potential impacts of stormwater pollution on riverine and marine habitats and associated species, as well as on our groundwater.
Toil of Soil
Pre K-4: The Toil of Soil program teaches students about how soil is formed, why it is so important and how to conserve it, through the use of colorful visual aides. Following the initial instruction, the students become soil scientists for a hands-on discovery with soil sieves; concepts reinforced include components of healthy soil and difference in soil size and type.
5-8: The Toil of Soil program teaches students about how soil is formed, why it is important, the different types of soil and how to conserve it. The students become soil scientists and use the scientific process to investigate soil using a series of sieves. Post-program, students will understand that different types of soil have different physical characteristics, and that such varieties support a large array of natural habitats.
5-8: The Toil of Soil program teaches students about how soil is formed, why it is important, the different types of soil and how to conserve it. The students become soil scientists and use the scientific process to investigate soil using a series of sieves. Post-program, students will understand that different types of soil have different physical characteristics, and that such varieties support a large array of natural habitats.
Water Use Efficiency
Pre K-8: The Water Use Efficiency Program teaches students about where their water comes from, the water cycle, how much water they use daily, and how to use water more efficiently at home and at school, with the help of colorful diagrams and maps. The educator will use an Enviroscape® model to explain how ground water is used. The instructional period is followed by a game where participating students answer trivia questions about water use and efficiency.
9-12: The Water Use Efficiency Program teaches students about where their water comes from, how much water they use daily, and how to use water more efficiently at home and at school. At this level, students also explore water treatment very thoroughly, aided by a demonstration by the IERCD educator using the waste water treatment Enviroscape® model. The teacher can request the ground water Enviroscape® model instead of the waste water model.
Wonders of Wetlands
Pre K-1: The Wonders of Wetlands program defines the concept of this habitat for students, as well as why it’s important. After teaching students about the animals that live in a wetland, the students play wetlands bingo.
2-5:The Wonders of Wetlands program defines the concept of this habitat for students, as well as why it’s important. After learning about wetlands, the students play a game to test their knowledge about wetlands and associated species dependent upon them.
6-8: The Wonders of Wetlands program defines the concept of this habitat for students, as well as why it’s important. In this level, students learn about species of migratory wildlife using wetland habitats as stop-over points, as well as nurseries for young. Wetland birds are the focus of this lesson, and following the initial instruction, students play a hands-on game that increases their knowledge of these species.
2-5:The Wonders of Wetlands program defines the concept of this habitat for students, as well as why it’s important. After learning about wetlands, the students play a game to test their knowledge about wetlands and associated species dependent upon them.
6-8: The Wonders of Wetlands program defines the concept of this habitat for students, as well as why it’s important. In this level, students learn about species of migratory wildlife using wetland habitats as stop-over points, as well as nurseries for young. Wetland birds are the focus of this lesson, and following the initial instruction, students play a hands-on game that increases their knowledge of these species.
Grants & Giveaways
Native Plant Garden Mini-Grant
The IERCD is excited to announce the beginning of its Native Plant Garden Mini-Grant! This grant aims to provide local schools within our District with the opportunity to start a new or expand an existing on-site native plant garden. The attached Grant Packet thoroughly explains the requirements and contents of the opportunity. The grant will only take place while funding lasts, so please submit an application if you are interested!
Please contact Project Manager Katie Heer at (909) 799-7407 x 102 for more information.
Portable Gardens
The IERCD will be giving away portable gardens to teachers in the Cities of Yucaipa and Calimesa. Be the first teacher at your school to win this unique prize for your students! You can choose if you would like the gardens to grow either herbs, vegetables or native plants.
If you are interested in winning a garden, contact the Education Department at (909) 799-7407 X 107 or by emailing info@iercd.org
Field Trips
North Etiwanda Preserve
The IERCD recently began a new field trip program at the North Etiwanda Preserve (NEP) in Rancho Cucamonga. The preserve was established in 1998 for impacts related to the construction of the 210 freeway. In the last 13 years, it has expanded to consist of over 1200 acres of open space that is open to the public. It consists mainly of a unique Riversidean Alluvial Fan Sage Scrub plant community and is habitat for the Coastal California Gnatcatcher.
These field trips are being offered for FREE and are available to students in the 2nd-12th grade. They consist of a long or short hike and a scavenger hunt. The students learn about native plants, the history of the preserve and other grade specific content while on the hike. The long hike takes about 3.5 hours and is a 3.25 mile loop, with the short hike taking approximately 1.5-2 hours and is a smaller portion of the loop.
Funds may be available to assist with busing to the preserve. Please contact conservation educator Amy Bonczewski at info@iercd.org or at (909) 799-7407 x 107 for more information on the program.
Speak-Off
Area Speak-Off 2011
The Inland Empire RCD hosted the Area Speak-Off on September 29th, 2011. The Speak-Off is a Speech Competition for high school students, and was hosted at the Mary Vagle Nature Center in Fontana.
This year's event was quite succesful with five students participating from Yucaipa, Redlands and Citrus Valley High Schools. Ricki Tindall, a junior at Citrus Valley won first place. Hannah Capps, a senior at Yucaipa High School took second place with Paniz Arab, a junior from Yucaipa High School taking third place. The first place winner went on to speak at the at the South Coast Regional Meeting for Resource Conservation Districts on October 6th, winning an additional prize there.
Because the IERCD hosts Speak-Off every year, if you or anyone you know is interested in participating in next Fall's event, please contact the Conservation Educator at (909) 799-7407 X 107.
Area Speak-Off 2010
The 2010 Speak Off took place at the Sam J Racadio Library and Environmental Learning Center, in Highland, on September 30th. Participating students prepared a 3-5 minute speech on the topic of “How Resource Conservation Districts can assist schools with Natural Resource Education.” Six students participated in the Speak Off from a variety of educational institutions, including Redlands High School, Yucaipa High School, San Gorgonio High School, and Summit High School.
Julia Bray, a sophomore at Redlands High School, won first place and received a cash prize of $250.00. Julia will move onto the State Speak Off in Ventura on November 19th. Arnetta Brown took second place and was awarded $150.00 and Robert Tooke took third, with a prize of $100.00.
The IERCD is grateful for all individuals who helped to make the event a success, including the students who participated, the parents who supported their efforts, and the staff of the environmental learning center for donating so much time to the Speak Off. In particular, the IERCD would like to recognize the staff members who were integral in event coordination, as well as those who participated by judging the speeches. These individuals include Rick Dean and Kara Cromwell from the Mary Vagle Nature Center, Lauren Berg from the Highland Environmental Learning Center, Jim Earsom, retired NRCS District Conservationist, and Shelli Cerrito from the Cucamonga Valley Water District.
State Speak-Off 2010
The IERCD is proud to announce that Julia Bray, the Finalist from the Area Speak-Off Competition, took second place at the State Speak-Off Competition on November 19th. Miss Bray represented the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District at the California Association of Resource Conservation District's Annual Conference, where she faced four other finalists from different regions in California.