Patty Crockford, refuge volunteer, instructs fifth grade students from Elk River, MN on habitat management for bald eagles at the Environmental Education Days held on September 16 & 17, 2008 at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Nancy Haugen.

Staff from the Natural Resource Conservation Service office in Sherburne County introduce fifth grade students from Elk River, MN to the soil profile near a refuge pool during the Environmental Education Days programs held September 16 & 17, 2008 at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Nancy Haugen.

Harlan Rosendahl, staff for the University of Minnesota Extension Service for Sherburne County, guides fifth grade students from Elk River, MN through the Wetland Metaphor activity during Environmental Education Days held on September 16 & 17, 2008 at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Nancy Haugen.

Bob Bengson, Senior Firefighter, discusses the use of a drip torch in prescribed burning, with fifth grade students from Elk River, MN during Environmental Education Days held September 16 & 17 at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Nancy Haugen.

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge and Sand Dunes State Forest were the host sites for the annual Sherburne County Environmental Education Days held on September 16 & 17, 2008.  The event, a cooperative effort between seven agencies, was attended by 271 fifth grade students and 40 teacher/parent chaperones from five area schools.  Agencies involved included the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, the University of Minnesota Extension Service for Sherburne County - Sherburne County Master Gardeners, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources-Forestry Division and Fisheries Division-Minnaqua, the Natural Resource Conservation Service for Sherburne and for Benton Counties, Sherburne County and Benton County Soil and Water Conservation District, the City of Elk River, and Sherburne County Zoning.  The Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge provided monetary support to defray the cost of the program for the schools.  Five refuge staff and three refuge volunteers were among the twenty-five instructors presenting programs during the two days.  The refuge was responsible for two stations: 1) Wildlife Management-the Bald Eagle and 2) Friendly Fire – the Benefits of Prescribed Burning.  Teacher evaluations show that this day of environmental education programs at the Refuge and the State Forest is a highlight of the school year for the students.  Many teachers say that they refer back t the Environmental Education Day activities in lessons they teach throughout the school year.