‘ELE‘ELE — Kaua‘i is the only island in the state participating in the National Association of Conservation Districts poster contest, said Sara Bowen, conservation specialist from the Hawai‘i Association of Conservation Districts, East and West Soil and Water Conservation District.
‘ELE‘ELE — Kaua‘i is the only island in the state participating in the National Association of Conservation Districts poster contest, said Sara Bowen, conservation specialist from the Hawai‘i Association of Conservation Districts, East and West Soil and Water Conservation District.
Bowen was delivering the posters submitted by the second-grade students at ‘Ele‘ele School who worked on the artwork revolving around the 2009 theme of “Dig It! The Secrets of Soil.”
Kalaea Elsaich-Rowe and Johanna Kona, both in the ‘Ele‘ele second grade, were announced as the first- and second-place winners for the grade two and three category, and accepted cash awards of $25 and $15, respectively.
Bowen said winners of the national contest get prizes of $100 and $75.
“We have yet to achieve that honor, but we hope to one year,” she said.
The two ‘Ele‘ele School students were joined by students from the Kaua‘i Christian Academy who filled out the other categories.
Calvin Corpuz Jr. was announced the winner for kindergarten and first grade. Lauren Leilani Gauthier and Kristin Mateo Corpuz, both fifth-grade students at Kaua‘i Christian Academy, earned first- and second-place awards, respectively.
Ellen Walraven, Lynette Helmstetler and Erlinda Banquel are the teachers at ‘Ele‘ele School. Rebeka Morales is the teacher at the Kaua‘i Christian Academy.
Bowen said each year, the East and West Soil and Water Conservation Districts adopt the stewardship theme set by the NACD.
“Based on that theme, we reach out to the community in a variety of ways, bringing the conservation concepts to light,” Bowen said.
Students learned about the complexities and importance of soil based on the 2009 theme of “Dig It! The Secrets of Soil.”
Bowen said there were a total of 66 entries for the 2009 poster contest, resulting in the five winners in three categories.
During her visit to the ‘Ele‘ele School second grade, Bowen could not help but notice the students’ work in the study of habitats.
“The 2010 theme is ‘Conservation Habit=Healthy Habitat,’ the theme tying in with the study by the second-grade students,” Bowen said, excited about the possibility of the students entering this year’s contest as third-grade students.
Many of the upcoming outreach events the SWCD units participate in this year will focus on the 2010 theme, Bowen said.
“Folks can visit our booth at the upcoming Kaua‘i Farm Bureau’s Garden Fair, April 17 at the Kaua‘i Community College, to learn more,” Bowen said. “Students and parents can encourage their teachers to participate in the next poster contest next school year.”
For more information on the NACD poster contest, visit www.nacdnet.org/education/contests/poster/#2010.
