Envirofest Continues to Inspire Sixth Graders After 30 Years
- Trinity Gruenberg
- 27 minutes ago
- 2 min read
by Trinity Gruenberg
On September 18, sixth graders from across Todd County gathered at the 147-year-old Dale and Marie Katterhagen farm in rural Browerville for the 30th annual Envirofest. The excited students were divided into groups to explore 23 different stations, each featuring hands-on activities designed to keep them engaged.
The significant anniversary included classic stations from the Science Museum and the Farm Tour, as well as new attractions like dinosaur digs and a DNR helicopter. Each group rotated through the stations every 25 minutes.
Stations featured activities such as DNR K9s used to find violations of fish and game laws and to locate aquatic invasive species. There were demonstrations on the water cycle and water quality that showed how to prevent erosion and preserve water quality. “Delightfully Dairy” informed students about dairy producers, their products, and even offered everyone an ice cream sample.
Other stations included lessons on macroinvertebrates and their significance for water quality and river health, as well as demonstrations on identifying different animal traps for furs and trapping. Todd/Wadena Electric provided a safety demonstration, while The Topography station utilized an augmented reality sandbox to teach various landscapes and the importance of elevation and water flow. The “Wall of Shame” displayed mounted animals as part of the DNR’s traveling exhibition on poaching.
Additional stations included DNR Forestry discussing forest management and wildland fire. Students also engaged in activities related to wildlife habitat and soil health, building habitats and racing worms. The “Trees on the Farm” station guided students through a wooded windbreak to identify different species and understand the roles trees play on farms...
