"Dear NRD,

Thanks for the trees. I had planted my tree in my backyard with my apple trees. I like trees because they give you shade and shelter for you. If we didn't have no trees it would be a desert around here."

Sincerely, Knighten

(Morrill 5th Grade)

Learn about the Water Cycle at the EPA's Drinking Water Page

Education Programs

      Education -- the key to protecting our natural resources for generations to come. We believe that by starting early in the classroom, children will become more aware and have a better understanding of the natural resources that are most important to their lives in Western Nebraska -- trees, water, soil.

Plus, we have a lot of fun, too!

Teachers, Do Your Students Know:

• How important the North Platte Project is to western Nebraska's livelihood?
• What they can do to help conserve and protect water?
• How Nebraska became known as the tree planters' state?
• What's in soil, why it's so important, and what we can do to protect it?

We provide factual, objective information about natural resources in the North Platte Valley and Nebraska, including:

• in-class presentations for any grade level;
• resource material or background information;
• models to demonstrate groundwater contamination or soil erosion.

Neat KIDS Links ..... Ag In The Classroom teach kids the importance of agriculture in our daily lives. Arbor Day Foundation for Kids  Fun activities from the Arbor Day folks!  Environmental Education for Kids Sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Fun and games about water, trees, wildlife, environment. EPA Kids' Page Learn how to protect the environment. EPA Educational Resources for Students/Youth Farm Safety 4 Just Kids Provides resources and training to individuals and communities to conduct farm safety awareness and education programs. goingoutside.com Do you and your students know where all Nebraska's lakes and other great outdoor adventures are? Find out here. Groundwater Foundation's KID's CORNER   Great ground water lessons and activities for students. hikercentral.com Do you and your students know where the closest hiking, biking, and backpacking trails are? Find out here. NASA learn how NASA science affects our resources. National Geographic Kids   National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Natural Resources Conservation Service teachers and kids' page River of Words Combining Watershed knowledge with expressions in art and poetry. TREES ARE GOOD All kinds of tree education links. U.S. Geological Survey's Learning Web Lots of science, science. Water Cycle game   An interactive game designed by NASA. USDA - Sci4Kids Cool experiments and neat information about science related to agriculture. USDA Forest Service Kids' Page A forest full of tree education. Water-Use it Wisely  Simple water saving tips for the whole family. WATER EDUCATION LINKS More water fun than you can fit in a bucket!