Online Youth Education

Latah SWCD is dedicated to youth educational outreach. Since Conservation Awareness Days has been cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 we offer instead an online educational resource for conservation topics students would have explored at Conservation Awareness Days.

Never Stop Learning About Conservation!

Online learning resources are listed under each of the following conservation topics:

Agriculture

Latah Soil and Water Conservation District's goal is to maintain and improve long-term soil productivity on agricultural lands while providing voluntary opportunities for the long-term preservation of working agricultural lands in Latah County. Learn more about the history of Agricultural Lands on the Palouse.

Idaho Agriculture in the Classroom

https://www.agclassroom.org/id/

BLM has a list of activities and online books to guide kids and families on ways to connect with public lands

https://www.blm.gov/learn/kids/join

Want to try your hand at agriculture this spring? Maybe you could start with beans! According to the Idaho Bean Commission, "Idaho produces the finest bean seed in the world!" Check out their website for lots of good info.

https://bean.idaho.gov/

Fishing

A lot of the work that we do at Latah Soil and Water Conservation District is to preserve and restore fish habitat for resident and anadromous fish.

Learn about the work we do for our fisheries resource.

Learn how wetland restoration is important for improving stream habitat for important fish species like Steelhead.

IDFG Fishing Planner:

https://idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/fishingplanner/

Spring Valley Fishing Planner:

https://idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/fishingplanner/water/1167569467845

Annual Free Fishing Day:

https://idfg.idaho.gov/events/free-fishing-day

Get Your Idaho Fishing License:

https://idfg.idaho.gov/license/purchase-options

What Are Steelhead?

http://www.friendsoftheclearwater.org/steelhead-trout/

Latah SWCD Presentation Guide fishing opportunities in Latah County:

Fishing For Kids in Latah County

Forestry

Latah Soil and Water Conservation District aims to protect and enhance forest conditions that maintain ecosystem functions and processes, support water quality, and provide for habitat and species diversity, while enhacing the future production potential of private forests. Check out our Forest Lands Page and other links to learn more.

Idaho Forest Products Commission has a great educational page with lots of learn-from-home resources, grants, and contests.

https://idahoforests.org/education/

Check out Idaho Department of Lands Annual Idaho State Forestry Contest. This is a great educational program.

https://www.idl.idaho.gov/forestry/idaho-state-forestry-contest/

Care for the land with Woodsy Owl

https://www.fs.usda.gov/learn/kids/woodsy-owl

Become a Junior Forest Ranger

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5106520.pdf

Discover the Forest Activities

https://discovertheforest.org/activities

Invertebrates

Important invertabrates depend on Endangered Native Plants and Healthy Ecosystems just like other Wildlife. Monarchs are one important invertabrate that needs our protection. Explore our website by clicking on the links above. Learn more about conservation efforts to protect invertabrates in the links below the picture.

Looking for a citizen science project this summer?

Check out

The Great Sunflower Project

Plant a sunflower and watch for pollinators!

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

https://www.xerces.org/

Pacific Northwest Bumble Bee Atlas

https://www.pnwbumblebeeatlas.org/

Idaho Invertebrates

https://idfg.idaho.gov/species/taxa/explore?category=33

Monarch Live: Distance Learning Adventure

https://monarch.pwnet.org/trc/plans.php

Native Plants

Native Plants are important for so many reasons. On the Palouse, native prairie used to make up much of the ecosystem. Today, the Palouse Prairie is endangered, and very rare. Learn more about the Palouse Prairie and how Latah Soil and Water Conservation District is working to preserve and restore native prairie and the plants that thrive on our native land.

Pollinator Activities Kids Can Do During Social Distancing

https://www.pollinator.org/parents-and-kids

Native Plants on the Palouse Presentation

Video Presentation with Brenda Erhardt

Monarch Picture Story

https://www.kidzone.ws/animals/monarch_butterfly.htm

Monarch Joint Venture

https://monarchjointventure.org/i-am-a/kid

Celebrate Wildflowers

https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/kids/index.shtml

Pollinator Live: A Distance Learning Adventure

https://pollinatorlive.pwnet.org/teacher/lessons.php

Explore our Special Status Species page to learn about endangered plants and animals that live on the palouse and need our protection.

Monarchs depend on native plants to survive. Learn about our Monarch Butterfly Project.

Plant of the Week

Salmon Migration

A lot of the work that we do at Latah Soil and Water Conservation District is to preserve and restore fish habitat for resident and anadromous fish.

Learn about the work we do for our fisheries resource.

Learn how wetland restoration is important for improving stream habitat for important fish species like Steelhead.

salmon-fish-waterfall-stream-royalty-fre

Salmon in the Classroom Curriculum

https://www.fws.gov/pacific/fisheries/documents/Salmon%20in%20the%20Classroom%20Final%202018.pdf

An Anadromous Lesson For Secondary Science Students

https://www.idahoafs.org/followingFishes.php

Millions of Salmon Return Home: National Geographic Video

https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/news/0000014a-2fd2-de99-abda-3fff7b220000

Wildfire

The productivity of Latah County forests has declined due to high mortality of western white pine caused by the introduction of blister rust. In addition, fire suppression and ongoing mortality, coupled with

insects and disease, have increased fuel loads beyond natural accumulations and changed the frequency and intensity of fire. Learn about Forest Lands and responsible wildfire management.