Cass County
Soil Conservation District

District Partners News

Project "TREES"

The Regional Environmental Education Series

The "TREES" programs are made up of six separate programs designed to emphasize the need to protect and conserve our natural resources. They are presented lyceum style or in classroom setting.

The presentations are provided at NO COST to the schools. They are sponsored by the Soil Conservation District and grants from the Environmental Protection Agency, the North Dakota Natural Resource Trust and North Dakota NPS Pollution Task Force.

If you are a teacher in Cass County, ND and would like to have one or two of the programs that is listed below presented to your class, please contact our office to get on the list. The programs are getting filled up fast so call early. If you are a teacher in another county, call your local soil conservation district to get on their list.

Dates Available in Cass County are: October 2007 / May 2008

See Calendar to assist with your scheduling.

Program Listing below:

"Pete Bogg and the Amazing Water Machine"

Pete Bogg is a cowboy/rancher, complete with a southern drawl, who demonstrates the "Amazing Water Machine." During the half hour program, students are introduced to the water cycle. By sharing some of his own experiences on the ranch, he encourages the students to think of a way that we can all practice conserving our precious water resources.

"Water You Doing?"

This is another one of the series of programs that is best suited for the K-3rd grade levels. In this program, a German immigrant named "Gunnar" takes students back to the early 1800's and portrays the captivating struggle to obtain adequate water. He shares what life was like for the settler and how their lives were dependent upon a good, clean and constant supply of water.

"Sam Ting"

Where would a Norwegian get a name like "Sam Ting?" If you know the answer then chances are you have been a participant in one of the programs that Sam Ting presented this past year. Sam delights audiences of almost any age with his Norwegian accent and humor. While entertaining his audience with his stories and jokes, Sam also teaches natural resource conservation awareness through the story of the weasel family. This program may also be utilized for various banquet and organizational meetings.

"Common Cents"

"JUDGES, are you ready??" Does that question make you flinch? Teachers who have had the opportunity of having their class participate in one of the two games shows know that they better be ready or they will suffer the consequences of having Darin Ewe track them down! Students are given the opportunity to be contestants who respond to natural resource based questions. Correct answers will win them 'valuable' "Conservation Bucks", or they may need some "Common Cents!" This program has become one of the favorite programs for the older students.

"More Common Cents"

Utilizing much the same format as Program IIIa, "Darin Ewe" is back as host of more game show fun. Designed to demonstrate the interdependencies of our natural resources, the students are again given the opportunity to be contestants in this test of their "Common Cents."

Program IV: K - 3rd Grade 30 Minutes, 4-6 Grade 50 Minutes

"Traveling with Lewis & Clark"

Experience a bit of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with this program by "George Gibson." George Gibson was one of the nine men from Kentucky that enlisted in the US Army to join the Corps of Volunteers for the North Western Discovery. The program takes the audience back to March 1805 at Ft. Mandan and Pvt. Gibson is out hunting. The students are given the opportunity to interact with Pvt. Gibson by doing some trading of goods.