Carson River Work Days

Students rotated between five stations and participated in numerous activities over the course of two days. One favorite among the students was constructing duck nesting boxes with the help of Jamie Oskowski, duck biology technician with UNR for Nevada Fish and Wildlife. With untreated wood provided by the Lahontan Conservation District, students helped assemble boxes for ducks and other water-foul to safely nest along on the 200 miles of Carson River.

NRCS, Natural Resource Conservation Services Nevada, under the purview of the USDA, also participated in the event providing conservation activities and a “soil tunnel.” The soil tunnel helps kids learn about soil health and soil health practices in relation to areas surrounding the Carson River.

High school students from Jessica Johnston’s Ag Science program at CCHS along with freshman biology students assisted the kids at each learning station, helping them with their activities and through a series of projects related to all things Carson River. Conservation, pollution, and wildlife were just a few of topics covered during the day.  Students participated in creating a large scale map of the Carson River, learning the adjacent mountain ranges, and identifying points and types of pollution.

Darcy Phillips with the River Wranglers works with school districts in six counties along the Carson River, including Churchill County and estimates that they are able to interact with 4,000-5,000 students each year.  “Inspiring youth through hands-on learning, the River Wranglers help kids to explore, conserve, and understand the importance of local rivers in Northern Nevada's Great Basin watershed.”

Katy McGowan, fifth-grade teacher recalled her first Carson River Work Day student event about 24 years ago. Fallon locals, Norm and Sue Frey, have provided a welcoming patch of riverbank since the first Work Day. Initially, students were bussed to the water’s edge at their ranch along Pioneer Way. The event has since moved closer to town to Frey’s Rambling River Ranch along Reno Highway.

Several agencies came together to make the event possible including Fallon’s FSA, Farm Service Agency, (USDA), NRCS, Fish and Wildlife, UNR, Nevada Department of Agriculture, Lahontan Conservation District, and the River Wranglers. T-shirts for students, a BBQ lunch, interactive learnings stations, and a take-home journal were provided for all students over the two-day event.