Courtesy Photo | Trey Church, conservation biologist at Cheatham Lake, lets a student hold an animal...... read more read more
By Dean Austin
Cheatham Lake Park Ranger
ASHLAND CITY, Tenn. (May 31, 2018) – Cheatham Lake park rangers engaged students at West Cheatham Elementary School Gymnasium May 22 for Environmental Awareness Day.
Kids of all ages and grades participated, broke up into groups, and park rangers led discussions about water safety, environmental stewardship, and local wildlife.
“Environmental Awareness Day is a great way for the Corps to enhance local students’ understanding of the environment and to promote ethical environmental stewardship behaviors. We also can use events like this to promote the USACE mission of water safety,” said Trey Church, conservation biologist at Cheatham Lake. “Getting these kids learning about local wildlife as well as water safety at the same time will benefit the local community as well as the families of the children.”
Students tried on life jackets to learn how they save lives, and they were taught to make sure they fit properly. Duck hunting and winter fishing are popular local recreation activities in the winter, so the park rangers also conducted exercises to demonstrate the effects of hypothermia and dangers of impaired boating.
“After we spoke with them about water safety, we talked to them about local wildlife in the area,” Church said. “Cheatham Lake rangers have a large collection of animal furs and skulls used for interpretive programs. The kids learned how to identify things about animals like what they eat and where they live by looking for physical characteristics such as shiny (oily) fur and canine teeth. They touched and handled the furs, skulls and fake bird eggs.”
In an effort to get the kids out visiting U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District lakes and recreation areas over the summer, all fourth graders were issued “Every Kid in a Park” passes so their families are able to visit at no cost.
“Cheatham Lake park rangers were honored to talk to students and teachers at West Cheatham Elementary School,” Church added.
(The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps, and http://www.facebook.com/cheathamlake, and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps.)
| Date Taken: | 05.31.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.31.2018 11:32 |
| Story ID: | 279017 |
| Location: | ASHLAND CITY, TENNESSEE, US |
| Web Views: | 26 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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