Education Programs

Education and public outreach are a priority for the Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).  The Geauga SWCD provides a wide variety of free conservation education programs  to any Geauga County school or organization, and  to residents and the general public.  Presentations can be tailored to meet the needs of the audience and are flexible in topic, length, and group size.  See the links below for more details.

Youth Programs

The school programs offered by Geauga SWCD are correlated to the Ohio academic science content standards.  In addition, Geauga SWCD's programs are supplemented by pre and post activity guides to enhance and extend the learning process.  

 In the Classroom  

Geauga SWCD provides FREE conservation education programs for schools within the county. We have numerous programs to choose from and presentations can be combined and modified.  We can also work with you to create a program tailored to your specific curriculum needs.   

Take a look at our Conservation Education Brochure!

Listed below are the education programs provided for preschool - 12th grade classes.  Those denoted with a Teacher Guide link are supplemented with a pre and post activity guide and correlated to the Ohio academic science content standards. 

• Web of Life Teacher Guide

• Soil Sleuths Teacher Guide

• Benthic Bugs Teacher Guide

• Oil, Toil, and Trouble Teacher Guide

• Groundwater Teacher Guide

• Freddie the Fish Teacher Guide

• Enviroscape Teacher Guide

• Stream Team Detective Teacher Guide

• Incredible Journey Teacher Guide

• Bats Incredible!

• Wildlife Detectives

• Buggin' Out!

• Fueling Our Future

  Nature Programs for the Young

The following programs are specially designed for very young children and preschool students.  Programs can be adapted to meet your specific time, space, and age requirements.

• Trees are Tree-mendous!

• Oh Say Can You Seed?

• Wildlife in Winter

• "Pond"ering Signs Left Behind

• Caterpillar Spring Butterfly Summer

• The Water Drop Dance

• Salamander Room

• On the Trail

• Why Should I?

• Wonderful Nature, Wonderful You

• World Wide

• Making the World

Contact Gail Prunty, Education/Communications Specialist, at 440-834-1122 ext 2# or gprunty@geaugaswcd.com to schedule a youth program or school presentation.

Millennium Youth Conservationists 

(Summer Stream Quality Monitoring Program)

Geauga County has an exceptional group of youths and adults working hard to understand our environment and keeping it healthy. 

Every summer since its founding in 2000, the MYC (Millennium Youth Conservationists) members have met in late May to plan their summer of stream quality monitoring of Geauga County’s three major river systems which include the Chagrin, Cuyahoga, and Grand River watersheds.  We meet twice each week from June through early August and monitor eight sites.  

2011 MYC Schedule

2011 MYC Directions to Monitoring Sites

The MYC is a group of environmentally conscious students from local elementary, middle, and high schools and their parents who are assisted by natural resource and education specialists from the Geauga SWCD. 

Members of the MYC have the opportunity to interact with other individuals who share their love and interest in nature while learning about issues pertaining to water quality and nonpoint source pollution and gaining valuable community service hours. The MYC currently monitors eight sites in Geauga County within the Chagrin, Cuyahoga, and Grand River watersheds.   

We are often asked how we scientifically determine water quality. Briefly, there are three major categories of tests. They are: (1) Measuring the quantity of specific chemical pollutants such as nitrates and phosphates in ppm (parts per million), (2) Using electronic devices to accurately measure dissolved oxygen, salinity, and pH (whether the water is acidic or basic), and (3) Determining overall quality of water by collecting, counting (and later releasing) small water creatures known as macroinvertebrates that often hide in fast-moving riffle areas of rivers and streams either under rocks, tightly gripping the bottom of rocks with their streamlined bodies, or in the bottom sediments. The relative number of pollution intolerant and pollution tolerant species gives a quantifiable picture of the quality of the creek or river water which is then ranked as excellent, good, fair, or poor according to a number formula devised by water quality experts.

Students from throughout the county will be monitoring sites again this year.  If you are interested in participating, please contact Colleen Sharp at Geauga SWCD for more information, 440-834-1122 ext 6#.

Annual Poster Contest

The District holds an annual Conservation Poster Contest in conjunction with the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation District (OFSWCD) Auxiliary in the Spring.

The 2012 Poster Contest Theme is Soil to Spoon!

2012 Conservation Poster Contest Soil to Spoon! Flyer/Application

2011 Poster Contest

The Geauga SWCD and the OFSWCD Auxiliary sponsored the 2011 Conservation Poster Contest.  The purpose of the contest is to instill in youth an appreciation for the environment and the need to protect our precious soil and water resources.  The 2010 theme was “Forest For People, More Than You Can Imagine!”  Each student was encouraged to express this theme in their poster. 

The Geauga SWCD received numerous entries this year, all illustrating outstanding conservation messages. A $30 cash award for first place and $20 second prize was awarded in each category.  It was a difficult decision to decide the winners of this year's contest, but decisions were made and are as follows:

Grades 2-3

1^st place - Ellie Angle of  Newbury Elementary               2^nd place - Emma Spencer of Timmons Elementary

Grades 4-6

1^st place - Katie Moses of  St. Helen School             2^nd place - Alexa Peters of St. Mary School

Grades 7-9

1^st place - Ethan Pawlak of  St. Helen School            2^nd place - Brianna Steigerwald of St. Helen School

Grades 10-12

1^st place - Amanda Vinecourt of Berkshire High  School                                                                    2^nd place - Paige Fisher of Berkshire High School

The first place winners of each category move on to the Area Competition, where they have a chance to move on to the State Competition.   First place winners in each category from the state competition move on to the National Competition where the first place winner will be awarded a $100.00 check and the second place winner will be awarded a $75.00 check. 

Congratulations to all the winners of the Geauga SWCD 2011 Conservation Poster Contest, and congratulations to Amanda Vinecourt for placing 2nd at the Area Competition!

2011 Geauga SWCD Poster Winners

2010 Geauga SWCD Poster Winners

Adult Programs

Geauga SWCD offers many engaging education programs for adults, educators, and the general public.  Some workshops and programs are offered each year while others are special events or part of our Storm Water, Phase II, and You! education series.  Contact us to see how we can accomodate your group or organization.

Teacher Workshops

Geauga SWCD regularly offers teacher workshops throughout the year.  These workshops are designed to enable teachers to receive continuing education credits while teaching them on the use of various outdoor teaching curriculums that are available.  Gail Prunty, Education/Communications Specialist, and Katie Nainiger, Conservation Education Coordinator, are certified to lead workshops for the following environmental educational curriculums: Project WILD, Project WET, Project Learning Tree, Science and Civics: Sustaining Wildlife, Wonders of Wetlands, The Leopold Education Project , Flying Wild, Project WILD Growing up WILD, Project Learning Tree, Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood, and Project Food, Land, and People. 

2012 Wonders of Watershed (WOW) Workshop dates will be in June 2012

2011 WOW Registration Form

The Geauga and Portage SWCDs partner to host a five-day educator workshop, named "Wonders of Watersheds".  During the very busy week, participants receive training and guides for the following curriculums: Project Wet, Project Wild/ Aquatic Wild, Science and Civics, Wonders of Wetlands, and Project Learning Tree.  Along with all of the great information, participants have the opportunity to go on many interesting field trips throughout Geauga and Portage Counties!  A number of resource specialists from many agencies including ODNR Division of Wildlife, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, local park districts, and nearby universities share knowledge and resources throughout this wonderful workshop.  All participants receive the guide books for Project Wet, Project Wild/ Aquatic Wild, and Project Learning Tree.  Graduate credits are offered through Ashland University.

2012 Advanced Wonders of Watershed (WOW)    Workshop dates will be in June 2012

2011 Advanced WOW Registration Form

For the fourth year, the Geauga and Portage SWCDs will host this once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity for area  educators.  The Advanced WOW workshop is designed to give teachers an in-depth look at the natural resources of the Great Lakes region and how these resources can be used to create lasting educational experiences for students.  Throughout the 3-day event, teachers will engage in numerous hands-on environmental science and biology activities lead by many local resource professionals.  Watershed impacts and protection strategies are investigated as venture to the shores and islands of Lake Erie.  Join us as we study freshwater inhabitants, band migratory birds, explore new ecosystems, and delve into the history and the future of Lake Erie's!  In addition, all participants will receive Wonders of Wetlands, Flying WILD, and Healthy Water, Healthy People curriculum guides.  Graduate credits are offered through Ashland University.

Agricultural Awareness in the Classroom

This is a workshop that will expose educators to the curriculum of Project Food, Land, and People.  Project Food, Land, and People promotes approaches to learning to help people better understand the interrelationships among agriculture, the environment, and people of the world. 

There will be a focus on the Food, Land, and People 700+page curriculum guide of hands-on, interdisciplinary lessons. Educators will become more familiar with the guide as they participate in several hands-on, cooperative learning lessons. Project Food, Land, and People lessons correlate with state proficiency test learning outcomes and are correlated to the Ohio Academic Content Standards.  Visits to several local agricultural establishments, such as a large dairy farm, orchard, and an organic farm may also be incorporated.  If you are interested in a workshop, please contact Katie Nainiger, 440-834-1122, ext 4#.

Teacher Resources

Below are a list of additional resources to further enhance the learning experience.

Dig It! Cultivating Creavity in the Garden

Workshops for the General Public

Pond Clinic 

The Geauga and Portage SWCDs present a free Pond Clinic biannually.  Topics covered at this two hour workshop generally include pond construction, fish stocking and management, vegetation identification, and wildlife issues.  The next pond clinic will be held in 2013.

General Workshops for Residents

Geauga SWCD is also available to speak at any other meetings and events. Please contact Gail Prunty, Natural Resources Specialist, at 440-834-1122 x2 to schedule a presentation.  Suggested presentation topics are listed below, although custom presentations can also be arranged.  



• Lawn Care and GreenScaping
• Rain Gardens
• Riparian Areas and Setbacks
• Resident's Role in Protecting Geauga County Watersheds
• Stream Quality Monitoring
• Wetlands
• Low Impact Development
• NPDES Phase II
• Best Management Practices for Erosion and Sediment Control
• Oil and Gas Wells
• The Great Lakes and the Story of the Great Lakes Compact

Agriculture Based Workshops 

Geauga SWCD offers Livestock Environmental Assurance Program (LEAP) and Equine Environmental Assurance Program (EEAP) training sessions.  Livestock producers meet eligibility requirements for cost share available through local Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Attendees also earn valuable points used in determining qualifiers for the EQIP program administered by USDA/NRCS.

Topics covered include: