Plants for Pollinators in the Classroom
The Mercer County Soil Conservation District is partnering with the Assunpink Environmental Institute to offer a new program called "Plants for Pollinators in the Classroom." The goal of the program is to help students in Mercer County discover the importance of native pollinators, study the relationship between plants and pollinators, and improve wildlife habitat in their own communities. Teachers and students will use the indoor growing kit (complete with plant stand, grow bulbs, potting soil and seeds) to explore plant growth, conduct experiments and raise butterfly plants. The program provides resources to help students learn about native pollinators and how to create a pollinator garden at their own school. Student-raised plants may be planted in the school's new pollinator garden or in the Girl Scout Butterfly Garden at the Assunpink Environmental Institute. Participating classrooms also receive a small selection of ready-to-plant butterfly plants to enhance the school's new garden.
Click here to visit our Plants for Pollinators page
Mini-grant Program for teachers
and youth leaders in Mercer County
The MCSCD would like to help your students get dirty! That is...outdoors to learn about natural resource conservation through direct experience in their local environment. Each year we offer up to four (4) minigrants of $250 to school teachers in Mercer County who are in need of funds to carry out conservation-based projects or activities with their students. Previous winners included teachers and students from Alexander School in Hamilton Township, Sharon School in Washington Township, Slackwood School in Lawrenceville, the Robbins School in Trenton, The American Boychoir in Princeton, Alfred Reed School in Ewing, and Steinert High School in Hamilton. The class projects included butterfly and herb gardens, a "Freedom Garden", and watershed studies.
The 2009 application has passed, but please check back for next year's application package, or call the District for details - (609) 586-9603. Applications are usually due near the end of January.
Presentations for schools and youth groups
The District offers free classroom presentations for school and community groups on a variety of conservation and environmental topics. Because we believe that the outdoors is the best classroom, our staff can also meet your group at a local park or on your school grounds. Our programs are correlated with the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. Some of our most popular topics include Trees, Earthworm Empire and Soil Formation, Endangered Species, Habitats are Homes, and Food Chains. Contact the District to receive a full program brochure or to make arrangements for an individualized program to meet the needs of your students.
NJ Soil Tunnel!
It's almost as much fun as making a mud pie, but on a larger, less gritty, scale. Passing under a large tree trunk, children -- and their grown-up relatives and friends -- can get an earthworm's perspective of the life that thrives in the soil when they enter the "Soil Tunnel." The inflatable, room-sized Soil Tunnel is available to schools and organizations throughout New Jersey. Click here for details.
NJACD Memorial Conservation Scholarship
This scholarship is granted by the NJ Association of Conservation Districts to encourage and support qualified students to pursue a career in a field related to the conservation and management of natural resources. It is open to New Jersey residents who are full-time college students, majoring in an agriculture or natural resource field. The 2008 scholarship deadline is April 25, 2008.
Click here for eligibility requirements
and a scholarship application form
Project Learning Tree and Project WILD Workshops for Adults
Teachers, scout leaders and parents will discover interactive and fun ways to involve students in natural resource conservation and environmental education. Teachers can earn 5 hours of professional development credit, and all participants will receive a free copy of the nationally recognized Project Learning Tree or Project WILD Curriculum and Activity Guides. Contact Heather at (609) 586-9603 to schedule an in-service workshop for your group, or check our events calendar for upcoming workshops at our office.
The Community Arboretum at the Assunpink Environmental Institute
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