WINTON – It was a classroom surrounded by the beauty of nature.

Children representing Ahoskie Elementary School, Ahoskie Christian School, Ridgecroft School and Riverview Elementary School gathered recently at the E.R. Evans & Sons farm near here on Bridger Farm Road to learn about the wonders of natural resources.

The all-day event – aka the Hertford County Natural Resources Field Day – traces its roots to 1990. It is sponsored by the Hertford County Soil & Water Conservation District.

“Our purpose is to allow the fifth graders enrolled in the schools here in our county an opportunity to learn more about the abundance of natural resources found here locally,” said Hertford County Soil & Water Technician Greg Hughes.

“We had a great group of students this year; they asked a lot of questions at each of the five learning stations and I feel they came away with a better understanding on how we, as humans, make an impact on our natural resources and how we can make a difference in protecting those resources in order for the next generation, and generations thereafter, to enjoy them,” Hughes added.

Following tradition, the students rotated from station-to-station – five in all. Speakers at each station were experts in their fields of Forestry, Soil & Water Conservation, Soil Science, the North Carolina Wildlife Commission, and the Hertford County office of North Carolina Cooperative Extension.

Michael Hughes, Chuck Munford and Jason Odom represented the NC Forest Service at their learning station. There, they shared information with the students on fire control, tree growth, the use of a Biltmore stick and Haga Altimeter (used to measure tree height and diameter), the use of an increment borer, and the use of a compass and hip chain.

NC Wildlife Officer Tim Wadsworth manned his learning station where students learned about outdoor recreation related to wildlife, safety measures and safety equipment, and wildlife regulations and the purpose for those laws.

While at Wadworth’s station, the fifth graders also had a chance to tour a Wildlife Education Trailer as supplied by the Dream Hunting and Fishing Program in Elizabeth City. Inside were numerous stuffed animals found in nature.

Dr. Carl Crozier, a Soil Scientist with North Carolina State University, provided information to members of his young audience on the physical properties of soil, topo slopes, and soil mapping. He also transitioned the students to a peanut field located adjacent to his work station and used an auger to remove a soil sample to show the children.

Gladys Owens with Gates and Hertford County Soil & Water Conservation used an “enviroscape” – one representing the landscape of the local area, to include local streams, creeks and rivers – to demonstrate the inner workings of point and non-point source pollution.

Hertford County Cooperative Extension was represented by Anassou Banna (Area Agent, Small Farms Management) and Josh Holland (Assistant Extension Agent, Agriculture – Field Crops). They shared knowledge on crop production, soil needs for certain crops, soil fertility and pesticide use.

“We really appreciate the hospitality shown each and every year by E.R. Evans & Sons farm for letting us use this location as an outdoor classroom,” said Hughes. “Thanks to that kindness and thanks to the informative sessions led by all those involved, we were able to educate the young people of this county to the importance of protecting our natural resources.”