Long Lake winners, pictured from top left, are Kellen Hunt, Lilyan Bozak, Daniel Stanilovskiy, Aria Furlong and Matthew Hosley. (Provided photo)

LAKE PLEASANT — The Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District hosted its 44th annual Lynn Galusha Memorial Conservation Field Day, where kids took notes used to create entries for the fifth-grade poster and sixth-grade essay contests. District staff ranked the submissions, held awards ceremonies, and are thrilled to announce the winners.

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The event

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On Sept. 21, 2023, 83 students traveled to the district for Conservation Field Day. Armed with graphic organizers, kids hiked the Adirondack Ecotrail to six stations and jotted down notes during each presenter’s talk that they later used for their contest entries.

Florence Braunius, of the New York Rural Water Association, showed students how to keep groundwater safe for drinking with an interactive model that detailed key features like wells, springs, the water table and bedrock. Christine Campeau and Elyse Bennett, of Adirondack Experience: the Museum on Blue Mountain Lake, asked students to select one of four management options to address beaver challenges.

Matt Olson, of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, showed how different surfaces like pavement, bare soil and grass absorb or cause runoff during a rainfall event. Caitlin Stewart, of the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District, used a colander, rubber ball, toilet paper and coffee filter to teach students that wetlands are important features in Hamilton County that provide essential services for people and wildlife.

Jamila Page and Luke Thomson, of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Hamilton County, presented “Agriculture and Me,” and students made a windmill craft at the Power of the Wind station with Matthew Plouffe of CCE Jefferson County.

After lunch, the day wrapped up with a K-9 demonstration presented by DEC Environmental Conservation Officer Matthew LaCroix and his dog Web.

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The contests

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Fifth grade students drew posters and sixth grade students wrote essays that illustrated the topic that, in their opinion, best conserves Hamilton County’s natural resources.

District staff judged entries with rubrics.

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The winners

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Awards ceremonies were held at each school where all participating students received a certificate of merit. Classwide and overall first, second and third place winners received certificates and ribbons. Overall winners received plaques.

The first place sixth-grade essay contest winner is Adeliz Ruiz, Lake Pleasant Central School, and the first place fifth-grade poster contest winner is Jacob Dorr, Lake Pleasant Central School.

Their names were engraved on plaques to be displayed at their schools.

The other sixth-grade essay contest winners are: second, Katelyn Comeau, Wheelerville Union Free School; third, Braeden Pratt, Long Lake Central School; and honorable mention, Shelby Clark, Wells Central School. The other fifth-grade poster contest winners are: second, Anthony Comeau, Wheelerville Union Free School; third, Glenn Chittenden, Wells Central School, and honorable mention, Matthew Hosley, Long Lake Central School.

“Conservation Field Day provides students an immersive, place-based experience with relatable topics presented by conservation experts,” said Stewart. “The contests spark creative thinking about why conservation is important. All students did a beautiful job with their entries.”

The district has been working to manage and promote the wise use of natural resources in Hamilton County since 1965. For more information go to www.hamcoswcd.org or call 518-548-3991.