Education

Education and public outreach are a priority for the Wayne Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). The Wayne SWCD provides free conservation education programs, displays and presentations to any Wayne County school or group.

The Wayne SWCD Education Specialist, Kelly Riley is available Monday through Thursday and can be reached by e-mail, at kriley@wayneohio.org or by phone at 330-263-5376. Please contact her to schedule a program or if you have any questions.

Kelly Riley demonstates pollution on the enviroscape model as students watch the effects of it wash into the streams.

The Wayne SWCD offers a variety of Educational Programs available, at no charge for any Wayne county school or club. Please click on the link "Consider Conservation" - for a list of the programs available.

Consider Conservation

There are also a number of Teacher Trunks available for loan. These trunks can help accentuate school lessons and make learning a lot more exciting! Kelly has also researched and saved many different environmental topics and lessons, and has is happy to share them. Check out the Educational Resources page with a variety of subjects and lessons. For the latest version of the Educational newsletter "Conquest", visit the Newsletter section of the website to get caught up on past issues!

Conquest

Students can get creative with our Poster Contest each spring, and High school students with the help of a team adviser, can participate in a fun environmental education contest called the Envirothon. Wayne SWCD also helps host a county Land Judging Competition every September with the help of local FFA teachers.

Soil layers with plant roots and a sprout. Text: "Soil. Where it all Begins."

2026 Poster Contest - Theme "Soil. Where it all Begins"

Wayne SWCD is once again seeking poster entries K-12 for the ANNUAL NACD Conservation Poster Contest. Entries due to our office April 30th 2026.

QR code surrounded by wildlife images: crane, acorns, insect, fox, fish, frog, dragonfly, trillium, and eagle. Links to Ohio wildlife guides.

Educational Resources

Lesson ideas, educational hand-outs and interesting readings all on PDF downloads or links.

Teacher Trunks

The following Educational Trunks can be loaned out for a 2-3 week period. Borrower is responsible for pick-up and delivery of kits unless otherwise…

Conquest Educators Newsletters

Go to the Newsletters Page to view all of the Past Issues of Conquest!

A group of children and adults poses by a wooden sign for "Chippewa Area School" and "Parfett's Paradise Outdoor Science Lab" in a forest.

Educator of the Year

See inspirational stories about Educators in our community that have made a Huge Conservation Difference! Many Thanks to them!

A jar filled with pine cones next to a sign asking how many are inside, offering a prize for guessing.

Fair Barn Contest

Do you ever wonder what the winning number was at our building? Or the answer? Check out all past contest's and catch up on some cool facts!

A barn owl is perched among bright yellow wildflowers, creating a serene and colorful nature scene.

ODNR Wildlife Guides

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources,. Division of Wildlife is pleased to provide educators with quality teaching aids about Ohio’s wildlife. The…

Free Tree Seedlings for 2nd & 3rd Grades

Wayne SWCD is offering on a first come, first serve basis... limited quanties of scotch pine tree seedlings to