Tobias Widger from the NYSDEC Fish Hatchery in Randolph educates areas fifth graders at the 53rd Annual Conservation Field Days

Tobias Widger from the NYSDEC Fish Hatchery in Randolph educates area youth

53rd Annual Conservation Field Days Held

Nearly 650 area fifth graders attended the longstanding event.

MAPLE SPRINGS, NEW YORK (June 3, 2019) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s 4-H Youth Development Program held Conservation Field Days on May 22nd and 23rd at the Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center on Route 430 in Bemus Point.

Chautauqua County 4-H welcomed nearly 650 area fifth graders from 13 schools. Youth visited seven of 29 stations that had various topics including bird migration, the water cycle, fly fishing, turkeys, and robots. Instructors always do a wonderful job making each station educational, hands-on, and fun!

Conservation Field Days was created by 4-H agent Jim Gould in 1966 to get youth learning out of the classroom. The program was first held at the Sack Farm in the town of Ellery and in 1990 moved to Long-Point State Park. CFD has been held at the Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center since 2010.

The heart of the program are the instructors who share their time and talents with area youth who attend CFD. Many instructors look forward to the event each year and can’t wait to come back. Speical thanks to Cheryl Wahlstrom and her team for providing a delicious breakfast and lunch for instructors and staff.

Instructors for the event included representatives from Allegany State Park, Alpacaville, Big Tree Maple, the “Bluebird Lady,” Chautauqua Lake Association, Chautauqua County Beekeepers Association, Chautauqua County Health Department, Chautauqua County Master Gardeners, Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office, Chautauqua County Soil & Water Conservation, Chautauqua Rails to Trails, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Eat Smart NY, Grape Discovery Center/Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association, Hilltop Livestock, Jamestown Audubon Center, Jamestown Fire Department, National Turkey Federation, New York State Department of Health, NYS DEC Forest Rangers, NYS Department of Public Service, Pioneer Forestry LLC, Randolph Fish Hatchery, Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, SAREP Fly Fishing, and Trappers Association.

Conservation Field Days 2020 is scheduled for May 21st and May 22nd.

The 4-H Youth Development Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated June 3, 2019