Having a field day
By larry meyer - argus observer
Sunday, May 6, 2007 12:22 AM PDT
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| Kristian Candaday, Cairo Elementary School student, receives some instruction on setting syphon tubes from Ryan Martin, a volunteer from Adrian, Friday at the Owyhee Watershed Field Day. |
NYSSA - For the sixth year in a row, the Owyhee Watershed Council, with the help of many volunteers and organizations, set up its outdoor classroom for hundreds of students Thursday and Friday in the Owyhee River canyon at the foot of Owyhee Dam to teach the value of water and how it impacts land and people.
More than 500 fifth- and sixth-graders gathered at sites around the Owyhee Irrigation District’s compound, which includes housing for employees, plus the park and campground, over the two days. The students represented schools in northern Malheur County, plus Homedale and one school in Boise.
“It gets bigger every year,” Jennifer Martin, coordinator for the watershed council and the field day, said.
The field day started six years ago with 180 students from Adrian, Jordan Valley, Marsing and Nyssa. Now, Nyssa, Homedale, Adrian, Annex and all of Ontario’s elementary schools send students, Martin said.
“We get more requests than we can accommodate,” Martin said, and this year a guest school was invited, bringing 100 students from Riverside Elementary School in Boise.
The field day is a series of mini-classes at various stations covering about 21 different topics.
Besides learning about irrigation and the importance of water to the local agricultural industry, students learn about the recreation opportunities such as rafting, fishing and hiking.
There is also an emphasis on safety, with discussion about safe practices and backcountry survival. Protecting the natural resources was covered in stations about noxious weeds, water quality, soils and erosion.
Presenters included representatives from a variety of natural resources agencies, businesses, the Owyhee Irrigation District, extension agencies and private individuals.
The enthusiasm has not waned, Martin said, noting all the volunteers and presenters enjoy it.
“We’ve gotten tremendous support from all the communities,” she said, commenting there were about 50 or more volunteers each day.
Among them were personnel of the Adrian Quick Response Unit. More than 100 FFA students from Jordan Valley, Adrian, Nyssa, Ontario and Fruitland also participated in the event as leaders for the individual student groups.
Adrian FFA members were the presenters at the crops station.
Donations, big and small, from businesses and individuals help support the event, Martin said, and in some cases pay the travel of some students to get there.
Laura Roberts, a student teacher at Alameda Elementary School in Ontario, said, “it gives the kids a little bit of first-hand knowledge of things they may not have experience.”
“I think it’s excellent,” Margaret Lejardi, parent chaperone from Homedale, said. “It’s an opportunity for kids to learn about water and land. It’s great to have the FFA kids helping.”
