We met our Cub Scout Den at the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area to fulfill the requirements for the Water and Soil Conservation Elective, which we need to get the Conservation Badge.
Lisa Cole at LLELA was fabulous. She worked with me to arrange activities that met all of our requirements.
These were our requirements:
a. Dig a hole or find an excavation project and describe the different layers of soil you see and feel. (Do not enter an excavation area alone or without permission.)
b. Explore three different kinds of earth by conducting a soil experiment.
c. Visit a burned-out forest or prairie area, or a slide area, with your den or your family. Talk to a soil and water conservation officer or forest ranger about how the area will be planted and cared for so that it will grow to be the way it was before the fire or slide.
d. What is erosion? Find out the kinds of grasses, trees, or ground cover you should plant in your area to help limit erosion.
We were there a little while before the other two families, so the kids did some exploring.
(Caroline is carrying some kind of insect in the background)
We are checking out what kinds of critters are hanging out by the Henbit.
Here is a picture of the hole that we dug to see the layers of earth. This is right next to the burned out prairie that we examined, but I didn't get a picture of that.
Lisa took us to an off-limit area to see the Heronry. There are several Blue Herons that have set up nests in the top of the trees and the paths have been closed so as not to disturb them. Our group was so quiet that she took us over so that we could check them out. It was really cool!
After we finished with the hike and activities, we drove over to see the Bison herd. That was really impressive (and about that time the cold front that we have been waiting for blasted through!)
LLELA uses Bison and controlled burning to try and bring back some of the Blackland Prairie that used to be common in North Texas and is now practically disappeared.
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