Natural Resources and Conservation
Education Programs
Scholarships
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Welcome to the LaSalle County SWCD Scholarship Program! We are proud to award $500 scholarships to the winners of the Section VII Animal Judging, Land Judging, Ag Mechanics, and Agronomy contests. These scholarships will be distributed upon the winners' high school graduation and successful completion of their first semester at a university, junior college, or technical school.
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Additionally, the George McKibben Scholarship, established by the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation District, is available for outstanding agriculture pursuing their education at any Illinois state college, recognizing academic excellence and to soil and water conservation. http://www.aiswcd.org
In Classroom Conservation Programs
Lasalle Soil and Water Conservation District offers a variety of in class, hands on activities for 3rd and 4th Graders. Please call or email Audrey Moreno the office for more details.
Nature Days
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3rd Grade Spring Nature Days - Rasmusen Natural Area
April 24, 2025
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2nd Grade Activity Day - Shabbona Park
September 2025
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4th Grade Fall Nature Days - Rasmusen Natural Area
October 2025
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Service Groups/ 4-H Clubs
SWCD is now offering activities and presentations for civic groups and 4-H Clubs.
Call or email audrey.moreno@il.nacdnet.net for more details
Power Point Soils Lessons
Attention Educators: Visit the Soil Science Society of America Soils Lessons Website for soil facts, lessons, links, activities and experiments. Just posted to the site are two Power Point presentations to help teach the Soil Color Lesson and the Soil Texture Lesson. The site focuses on educational resources for K-12 teachers.
Outdoor Education Areas
The LaSalle County Soil and Water Conservation District owns and manages two properties for educational purposes. The property, known as the Costello Nature Reserve is located in the Illinois River Bluff area between Marseilles and Seneca and was donated to the district in the fall of 2004 by the Costello and Vignola families. The Rasmusen Nature Area is an outdoor education area in Northville Township that was donated to the District in the early 90's by the Rasmusen family. Please watch Facebook and this website for scheduled activities.