Nebraska's NRDs have a variety of projects and programs to educate both youth and adults about conservation and natural resources.
Many districts sponsor or participate in natural resources festivals, teacher workshops, classroom presentations, and more. Districts also help sponsor regional Land Judging Contests, Range Judging Contests and the Nebraska Envirothon, with coordination from NARD.
The Envirothon is a program for 9th-12th grade students to learn more about our natural environment. Students compete in contests that test their knowledge on a wide array of subjects relating to natural resources and the environment. NRDs host regional Envirothon contests around the state each spring. Click on the word "Envirothon" for more details. Contact Megan Grimes at mgrimes [at] nrdnet.org with questions.
Land Judging is a high school competition that challenges students to gain a better understanding of soil structure and land evaluation. Land judging enables each participant to learn how to recognize the physical features of the soil, determine land capability for crop production, and evaluate management practices needed for proper stewardship. Soil, land and home-site evaluation provide a setting for students to investigate the soils in their region, the environment that surrounds them and their effect on their daily lives.
NRDs work with area schools to host Land Judging contests all over the state each fall. Regional winners go on to compete at the state contest.
Range Judging is a high school competition that challenges students to gain a better understanding of Nebraska rangelands which makes up half of the State's land area. Range judging enables each participant to learn how to recognize range plants, range sites and the need for proper grazing practices.
NRDs work with the Society for Range Management, NRCS and UNL Extension to host Range Judging contests all over the state each September.
Annually, Nebraska’s NRDs host a natural resources camp called Adventure Camp about the Environment (ACE). ACE is open to students who have who are entering 7th or 8th grades and want to learn more about natural resources at an adventure camp. Campers will learn about: aquatics, forestry, range ecology, wildlife and soils/land use. Campers will experience hands-on activities with a variety of speakers and explore possible careers in natural resources. ACE also includes adventurous activities for campers such as a swimming, tubing, campfires and many other games!
ACE is currently being hosted at Kamp Kaleo in Burwell. Camp is $235/camper and includes meals, lodging and activities. Most NRDs offer scholarships for students wanting to attend camp. Contact your local NRD for information on camp scholarships. Register for 2027 ACE Camp (June 20-23, 2027) at the Kamp Kaleo website.
Find pictures and fun on our ACE Camp Facebook page at Adventure Camp about the Environment!
The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts along with Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts provide kindergarten through 12th grade students with an opportunity to share their thoughts about soil, water and related natural resource issues. It highlights the educational outreach efforts of conservation districts and their state conservation associations, auxiliaries and/or agencies.
Know Your Well is a Nebraska Environmental Trust-funded project that trains high school students how to sample and test water quality. Students collect land use and other data to help determine vulnerability to contamination. Well owners are supplied with test results and provided with information to help them evaluate their water quality. This project is a partnership with the Nebraska Water Center and Papio-Missouri River NRD with support and participation from more than 16 NRDs.
