Making a connection to nature
By Deb GauArticle Photos
SLAYTON - The inside of the round barn at the Murray County fairgrounds looked more like a big spider web at times Tuesday afternoon.
Sixth-graders from Lynd Public School tossed around a ball of twine as they made connections between predator and prey on the prairies. Then, leader Terry Dybsetter dropped her end of the twine.
"What happens if we get rid of the mosquitoes or the insects in this environment? Can any of you feel that?" she asked the kids.
"I can," said Dustin DePew, the student on the other end of the twine connection. DePew was playing the part of a frog. "I can't eat."
As more and more ends were dropped, the remaining parts of the "web of life" could feel the pressure.
The ecology activity was part of the Southwest Minnesota Association of Conservation Districts' Environmental fair, which took place Tuesday and Wednesday in Slayton. The event is hosted by 14 area soil and water conservation districts in southwest Minnesota. Sixth-grade students from within the 14-county area were invited to do some hands-on learning with the help of SWC staff, live animals and a crazy game or two.
"I liked the fisheries," said Lestat Clemmer, one of the Lynd students, naming his favorite station.
To simulate the food chain in a lake, the students were each given a fishy identity. "Minnows" scrambled to survive by collecting cupfuls of food, represented by popcorn on the ground, while at the same time bigger fish chased them and anglers chased the big fish.
"I got caught," said Holy Redeemer School student Monica Synstelien from the sidelines, after getting tagged by an angler.
Meanwhile, some of her classmates were learning the pros and cons of hiding from predators.
Minnows would be safe from getting tagged inside designated patches of "fish habitat," but then they couldn't go out and get food.
"Spencer's dying," one student joked. From inside the safe zone, Spencer Aufenthie answered, "No, my cup's full."
The fisheries game was fun, students said, but many said their favorite were the animal sessions. Some of the creatures were brought to the fair by the Minnesota Zoo.
"I liked the snakes," DePew said.
"We got to see a Holland parrot," Jenna Stoutland said, as well as giant centipedes and roaches, and different kinds of lizards.
"We got to learn the differences between the tropical animals and the animals that we have here," Synstelien said. "But even though they're different, they have some things that are the same."
