“What (fill in the blank) Taught Me About My Relationship with Nature” was the topic for this year’s Forest County Association of Lakes (FCAL) essay contest. Students from 5th and 6th grades in Crandon, Laona and Wabeno were invited to participate. FCAL members made presentations in some classrooms, leading brainstorming about connections the students had with nature. Students continued to brainstorm with their teachers ways we depend on nature and ways it depends on us.
Then they wrote a myth, fable or legend in which a personified being from the natural world teaches them something important about their relationship with nature. Talking bees, trees, foxes, mushrooms and more taught lessons about protecting bees, keeping our waters clean, respecting wild animals, appreciating the plants and trees that provide oxygen for us to breathe and more.
First, second and third place winners received $100, $50 and $25 cash prizes, respectively. Awards were presented at each school. Essay contest winners and two family members are invited to attend the FCAL annual banquet on October 18. Winning essays can be seen at the Crandon Public Library and on the FCAL website at fcal-wis.org.
Crandon 5th grade (teacher Lacey Palubicki) winners are 1st place Preston Hauser, 2nd place Myles Kircher and 3rd place Ellee VanZile. Crandon 6th grade (teacher Lindsey Jaeger) winners are 1st place Drew Gerber, 2nd place Maaliyah Ward and 3rd place Tenley Teschner.
Laona 5th grade (teacher Maggie Nowicki) winners are 1st place Jase Miller, 2nd place Jackson Frank and 3rd place Jonah Peters. Laona 6th grader (teachers Michelle Ferm and Karen Biedermann) winners are 1st place TJ Perry, 2nd place Cienna Cleereman and 3rd place McKenzie Berg.
Wabeno 5th grade (teachers Darcie Zelle and Laurie VanKauwenberg) winners are 1st place Aubree Linssen, 2nd place Flynn Habeck and 3rd place Alex Beerntsen. Wabeno 6th grade winners (teacher Chris Kuntz) are 1st place Grace Yingling, 2nd place Gabrielle Boyd and 3rd place Colleen Stealer.
The mission of FCAL is to work with lake organizations, government agencies and the general public to protect Forest County inland water bodies, environs and watersheds for now and future generations. Visit us at fcal-wis.org for news, resources and information.