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Rosebud-Treasure Counties

Future Soil Scientists

Published: 2019
By Melissa Ashley
With their instrument of measure in hand, over 200 kindergarten through sixth graders became soil scientists for a day. 4-H members and non 4-H members alike participated in two soil testing workshops presented by Rosebud-Treasure MSU Extension Agent, Melissa Ashley. 4-H is rooted in ‘Learning By Doing.’ Experiential learning is a key driver of MSU Extension’s success in youth development. During one of the final weeks of school, nearly 85 Forsyth Elementary students participating in the annual Arbor Day Celebration circulated through Ashley’s soil testing workshop. The workshop was held inside the Forsyth Community Garden, also overseen by Ashley. Beyond soil sampling, students asked questions and learned about Montana horticulture practices as well as the Forsyth Community Garden. Several weeks later, at 4-H Camp Needmore in Ekalaka, MT, over 120 enrolled 4-H members from across Southeast Montana were transformed into soil scientists as well. Nestled in the Custer National Forest, groups of youth explored the landscape on the scheduled nature walk workshop. When debriefing after each group, members found it interesting that observations seemed to vary across samples taken from differing topography. At both locations, youth were able to experience collecting soil moisture, pH and light. The Forsyth students were tasked with testing garden plots, flower beds and raised beds in the Community Garden. The 4-H campers explored hillsides, valleys, ridgelines and even decomposing stumps at camp. Each group shared their findings and observations with their peers and, together, processed the information and found commonalities among each other’s diverse samples and findings. Debriefing an activity moves an experience from learning to applying. Each group then answered questions about how they might use what they learned as soil scientists. Each group also explored related careers answering who might use this information professionally.