Piscataquis County Soil & Water Conservation District
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Home Search Partners Supervisors & Staff In the News Annual Tree & Shrub Sale Annual Trout Sale Technical Services Contact Us Projects & Programs		Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District’s 2008 Educational Workshops and Programs National Association of Conservation District’s Poster Contest - Spring All interested grade levels and students are invited to participate in this annual contest. This year’s poster conservation theme is “Water is Life”. Alignment to the Maine Learning Results is available upon request. In addition to local recognition, winners of the local contest will be entered into the state poster contest, with the possibility of continuing on to national competition. Deadline for local submissions is Wednesday, February 13^th. Tree and Shrub Sale - Saturday, April 26^th from 9:00AM to Noon for pre-orders (deadline Thursday, March 20^th): This year we will offer an extensive plant list for wildlife, such as fruit and nut trees, and also plants and plant packages for soil and erosion control and rain gardens. We can also provide you with specific information to assist you with successful plantings. You may download the plant list and order form from our website. Blueberry Integrated Crop Management (ICM) - May - August This is a monitoring program for blueberry producers to identify any potential problems. Soil and leaf tissue testing in done through the University of Maine’s Cooperative Extension. Vernal Pool Workshop - Saturday, May 3rd at 9:00AM Gordon Moore of the Maine Forest Service will lead a classroom session at the USDA Service Center in Dover – Foxcroft at 9:00AM, and then participants will have a field session at a local vernal pool site. Topics will include vernal pool identification, habitat management guidelines, vernal pool monitoring and regulations. Wear you mud boots! CEUs are available for Certified Logging Professionals, and may be for other professions – please inquire. Registration fee $5.00. Teacher of the Year We will honor one of our local teachers for their natural resource education. You may nominate any Piscataquis County teacher by contacting the district office by Tuesday, May 6^th. Trout Sale for Stocking Ponds - Saturday, May 10 at 11:30AM pickup date for pre-orders (deadline Thursday, May 1^st): This is for private pond stocking with rainbow and brook trout and requires a Maine Department of Inland Fisheries Wildlife permit. You may download the permit application and trout order form from our website. Hardwood Forest Planting - Saturday/Sunday, May 10th and 11th at 8:00AM This project includes plans to plant 1000 American chestnut trees, 2500 red oak trees and 200 bur oak trees at the PCSWCD Demonstration Forest and Woodlot. We will be working to restore the American chestnut and to assist in the development of a very unique hardwood forest. This project was funded by the Hardwood Forestry Fund, an educational organization dedicated to establishing sustainable hardwood forests, and through a generous contribution from Lumbra Hardwood Mill in Milo. Participants will want to bring tree planting tools. Please volunteer to help further our community’s public forest. We will be creating a legacy for future generations! Central Region Envirothon for High School Students - Friday, May 16^th This outdoor natural resource competition for high school students will be held at the Demonstration Forest in Williamsburg. Student teams are led by volunteer advisors who help students prepare for stations on water quality, wildlife, forestry, soils and current events. Winners at regional events may go on to state, national and international competitions and win scholarships and other prizes. Tree Pruning Workshop - Friday, May 23rd at 9:00AM This workshop will educate participants on pruning forest and street trees and will be geared to the needs of woodland owners and municipalities in this region. Pete Lammert and Gordon Moore of the Maine Forest Service will lead a classroom session at the USDA Service Center in Dover – Foxcroft then tree pruning demonstrations will occur at local field sites. Registration fee $5.00. National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Workshop for Landowners - Thursday, June 5^th at 9:00AM Managing land to improve wildlife habitat increases the value of that land and creates a place for wildlife to flourish and for hunters to pass on their traditions. The NWTF provides services to private landowners to help them manage their land. This workshop is a partnership of the NWTF and your local conservation districts. Woodland Aesthetics - Saturday, June 6th - National Trails Day at 9:00AM American Hiking Society's National Trails Day^®, held the first Saturday of every June, is America's largest celebration of trails and the outdoors. Join us at the Demonstration Forest in Williamsburg on this day to participate in trail work projects in the morning and an educational workshop on Woodland Aesthetics in the afternoon, with presenter Andy Shultz of the Maine Forest Service. Please contact the PCSWCD for more information. Unpaved Road Maintenance and Repair - Saturday, June 14^th at 9:00AM Do you need to grade your road, do maintenance, site clean up, landscaping finish grading or snow removal on soft roads? Brad Dean of the Maine Department of Transportation and Dave Power of the Natural Resources Conservation will teach workshop participants how to maintain your property, prevent soil erosion and protect water quality. The PCSWCD Frontrunner grader/raker is available for a low rental fee to all workshop participants. Registration fee $15.00. Tree Identification - Saturday, July 12^th at 9:00AM We will be hosting a Community Forest Volunteer Day to work on forest projects in the morning. There will be a presentation on tree identification with Keith Kanoti of the Maine Forest Service in the afternoon. Please contact the PCSWCD for more information. Demonstration Forest Volunteer Days - Saturday June 7^th (National Trails Day) and Saturday, July 12^th at 9:00AM at the Demonstration Forest in Williamsburg Township. American Hiking Society's National Trails Day^®, held the first Saturday of every June, is America's largest celebration of trails and the outdoors. Help us get ready on these two community volunteer weekends by clearing trails and assisting with other annual outdoor maintenance. Individuals, students, families and civic organizations are all welcome to participate. Please contact us in advance so we can plan for plenty of food and beverages for volunteers. Gravel Roads Maintenance and Construction Workshop – Saturday, June 14^th This workshop for municipalities, private road owners and road associations focuses on road maintenance for prevention of soil erosion and non-point source pollution and protection of water quality utilizing a frontrunner grader/raker which is available by rental to all workshop participants. Speakers will include a representative from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection the Maine Department of Transportation, and Russ Lanoie, Frontrunner Inventor. Natural Resources Summer Camp - Monday - Friday, June 23^rd to 27^th This week of our camp for children ages 7 - 12 will include presentations on forestry, soils, bugs, water quality and wildlife. Based out of Foxcroft Academy’ Student Center we will be doing nature based crafts, playing games and spending time outdoors learning from professionals in these natural resource based fields. Agricultural Tours Summer Camp - Monday - Friday, July 7^th to 11^th During this week of camp we will be visiting local farms to learn about cows and the milking process, growing fruits and vegetables, horse care, buffalo, and maple syrup production. We may get to horse back ride, go on a hay ride, pick fresh strawberries, play games, make new friends and have fun! Contractor Certification Program - Spring, Summer, Fall Evaluation of construction sites for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s Contractor Certification Program. The goals of this program are assistance in understanding erosion control practices as well as assisting contractors with compliance with the state’s erosion and sediment control law. LakeSmart Evaluations for Lake Association Homeowners - Summer and Fall Landscape and property management practices to protect water quality are reviewed in the following five categories: road, driveway and parking areas; structures and septic systems; lawn, recreation areas and footpaths; shorefront and beach areas and undeveloped land. The primary focus of these evaluations is to keep our lake water clean by stabilizing eroding areas, reducing the use of chemicals, diverting rainwater into vegetated areas, and minimizing lawns and other impervious areas. Pristine lake waters add beauty, increase property value and provide recreational opportunities throughout the seasons. Watershed Stewards Program for Lake Association Homeowners - Summer This program is an education program through the University of Maine’s Cooperative Extension “designed to aid local citizens in recognizing threats to their lake, and give ‘stewards’ the tools needed to reduce or eliminate those threats”. This program can be based on the needs of the participating watershed and citizens and can cover a variety of watershed topics. A watershed will need twenty individuals during the fall season committed to participate in the program. Or, if there are fewer people from one watershed, two watershed groups may be combined. Annual Tour and Luncheon Banquet - Summer Honor one of our local farms for their conservation practices. Tour the farm with us to learn more first hand from the farmer, and agroforestry speakers then participate in our luncheon picnic banquet. Nominate a local farmer for this award by contacting us at the district office by Tuesday, May 1^st. Demonstration Forest Open House - Fall At our forest located in Williamsburg Township. Tour the community forest with us learning about wildlife habitat, tree and plant species, forest management practices, our local cultural heritage, geocache and other topics. Student Field Trips to the Demonstration Forest - Fall These field trips for local school students include learning about forestry, wildlife, soils, tree and leaf identification, geocache and other topics in our outdoor classroom, learning stations and hikes through the woods .They are tailored to group needs and feature professionals from the Department of Conservation and other natural resource agencies. Project Learning Tree Teachers Workshop - Friday, October 10^th Project Learning Tree® is an award winning, multi-disciplinary environmental education program for educators of students in PreK-grade 12. PLT, a program of the American Forest Foundation, is one of the most widely used environmental education programs in the United States and abroad.  PLT continues to set the standard for environmental education excellence. It uses the forest as a “window on the world” to increase students’ understanding of our complex environment. PLT not only teaches about trees, but has informative lessons about land, the air and the water. These lessons help to instill the confidence and commitment to take responsible action on behalf of the environment. Project Learning Tree is an international program operating in all fifty states. Workshop participants will learn about new sources of information and identify resources. PLT activities are hands on, appropriate for indoor and outdoor learning and are designed for formal and non formal educators of children in grades PreK through 12. PLT has an interdisciplinary approach, integrating important environmental lessons into the sciences, mathematics, art, social studies, language arts, music and English. This training will provide teachers with an opportunity to visit our Demonstration Forest that is located in Williamsburg Plantation. TBA - Additional 2008 Workshops and Programs! Merchandise Birdhouses $12.00 Marking Flags 100 for $10.00 50 for $6.00 25 for $4.00 Topographic Maps $7.00 Plantskyyd 1 quart spray bottles $20.00 1 gallon jug $54.95 2.2 pound soluble powder $39.95 Southern Piscataquis Regional Recreation Map and Guide $4.50 Individuals, students, families and civic organizations are encouraged to get involved in conservation efforts by volunteering to assist with our programs. We also have volunteer opportunities at our office and/or serving on the district board. Any interested individuals may contact us for more information. Contact Information: Joanna Tarrazi Executive Director/Educational Coordinator Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District 42 Pine Crest Drive Dover – Foxcroft, ME 04426 564 – 2321, extension 3 www.piscataquiswcd.org The Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District’s mission is to be a leader in agriculture, forestry and other natural resource education, providing assistance and coordination of resources and information to promote practices that maintain our way of life. We are a non-profit organization. All proceeds from our programs are used to promote conservation and the wise use of our natural resources.
		The Piscataquis County Soil & Water Conservation District is a non-profit organization. All proceeds from our fundraising efforts are used to promote conservation and the wise use of our natural resources. The Piscataquis County SWCD is an equal opportunity provider and employer.