BLM- EE&V Feature of the Month

Wyoming BLM-ers knew they were in for an adventure as 150 fifth-graders, 15 teachers, and one dog showed up at the Bump Sullivan/Springer Wildlife Habitat Unit to participate in the Goshen County Weed Management Area's National Public Lands Day (NPLD) Event. As part of NPLD, fifth-graders from the Torrington, Wyoming, area were invited to a special outdoor classroom day to learn about various aspects of noxious weed management.

Located in southeastern Wyoming 15 miles south of Torrington on Highway 85, the Bump Sullivan/Springer Wildlife Habitat Unit is a nesting area and habitat for water fowl and upland game birds. This area and adjacent private lands are experiencing serious noxious weed problems that are being treated by the Goshen County Coordinated Resource Management (CRM) Team. The Goshen County CRM is a cooperative group of private landowners and County, State, and Federal organizations that work together in the fight against noxious weeds.

At 9 a.m. on September 28, 1999, buses arrived at the Wildlife Habitat Unit, where students piled out bundled up in coats, hats, and gloves. A severe cold front had blown through, causing temperatures to plunge to the 40s; teachers had been telephoned the night before and asked to warn students of the cold conditions expected for the day of the event.

The intrepid students were split up into five groups for a mile-long hike through five environmental stations set up at the Unit. Each station featured a component of weed management, including: Public Lands What Are They?; Plant Ecology and Forms; Habitat and Its Importance; Noxious Weeds and Management, and Principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Students evidently enjoyed all the stations, but of particular interest were the various "bugs" used in IPM.

The station hike was followed by a trip to the Downar Bird Farm, which is managed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Students were excited to see and learn about the pheasants that the Game and Fish Department raises to release into local habitats. Quite a few stray feathers were collected as souvenirs of this avian adventure.

After the bird farm tour, students made their way to the Rendezvous Center for a barbecue, where they received a free NPLD T-shirt, commemorative poster, and floating canister (or "neck tote"). Out of all the day's activities, eating barbecued hot dogs and hamburgers was -- predictably! -- the young students' favorite. The teachers were provided with environmental education materials to supplement Earth Science studies in the classroom.

Despite the cold weather, both students and teachers enjoyed the tour and are ready to come back this year for NPLD 2000.

The Goshen County Weed Management Area NPLD event was co-sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management, the Goshen County Weed and Pest Control District, and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

For further information on BLM's weed management activities in the Bump Sullivan/Springer Wildlife Habitat Unit, please contact Lesley Collins of BLM's Casper Field Office at (307) 261-7600 or e-mail Lesley_Collin@blm.gov . Please also visit the BLM-Wyoming Weed Project web page at http://www.wy.blm.gov/weeds/index.htm and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Education page at http://gf.state.wy.us/HTML/education/education.htm. You may reach the Goshen Weed and Pest Control District by e-mail at gocoweed@prairieweb.com .

For more information on National Public Lands Day, please visit the National Environmental Education & Training Foundation website at http://www.npld.com .

This page was created by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Environmental Education & Volunteers Group, 1849 C Street, Room 406-LS, Washington, DC 20240. Send comments or questions relating to accessibilty of documents to Kevin_Flynn@blm.gov
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