WAPPAPELLO, Mo. - Educating students about the environment was the goal of Ecology Day at Lake Wappapello last month, just a week before devastating flood waters took a toll in the Wappapello Lake area and various other parts of the state.
Fourth grade students from Twin Rivers, Sacred Heart and Malden traveled to the Bill Emerson Memorial Visitor Center for the event, sponsored by the Butler County University of Missouri Extension Office.
"The whole purpose of this day is to educate them on the environment and how to take better care of it," said Stephanie Milner, 4-H development specialist for the extension office.
In small groups, students traveled from station to station learning about water safety, fish biology, insects, amphibians, reptiles, Native American tools, renewable energy, soil and the outdoors from presentations from various speakers.
Mike Milam was on hand to teach the youngsters about insects. He explored topics ranging from rare and unique species to others facing endangerment. For instance, Milan spoke about the rare Aphis Mizzou which is a creature found only on the University of Missouri's campus.
Fisk Elementary student Cayden Acre said Milan's presentation was a highlight of his Ecology Day experience.
"I learned about an insect called the Aphis Mizzou. I didn't know it existed. A retired college professor from Mizzou named it and found it," Acre said.
Another presenter, Fred Bollinger, spoke about Native American tools. He said he has been a collector since boyhood and enjoys teaching youngsters how people lived before "the white men came to America."
"Everything has a story and a purpose," Bollinger said. "(The natives) made use of things the kids never knew they could use."
Bollinger shocked the students with spears tied with squirrel intestines and hair pins made from deer bones. He also gave the youngsters an opportunity to use a replica Native American pump drill to make holes in slabs of slate.
And of course, no ecology lesson is complete without snakes and reptiles.
Visitor Services Ranger Deborah Koenigs provided a creepy, crawly good time featuring myriad critters that made students squirm.
Raynna Rogers, who also attends Fisk Elementary, enjoyed Koenigs presentation.
"I enjoyed holding the snakes because I like snakes, except venomous ones. Snakes are fun to hold," Rogers said.
And for anyone who may be curious, the difference between Earth Day and Ecology is two years, according to Milner.
"Earth Day is for sixth graders and Ecology Day is for fourth graders," she said. "But basically, it's the same thing."