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Aldo Leopold
Aldo Leopold worked for the U.S. Forest Service
for many years and then went to work for the
University of Wisconsin. He was appointed to
chair the first Department of Game Management in
the United States. There he taught students
about the interactions of plants, animals, soil
and land use.
In 1935 Leopold bought a worn out piece of land
on the Wisconsin River. Together with his family
they planted trees, wildflowers and shrubs to
restore the land and they studied the natural
regeneration of plant and wildlife that
followed. Throughout the process he kept a daily
journal. After his death in 1948, his writings
were published in A Sand County Almanac. Leopold
left future generations not only a classic work
of literature, but a legacy of sensible land
use. |
Land Use Council 16
The Soil and Water Conservation Districts
(‘SWCDs’) of Illinois are represented by the
Association of Illinois Soil and Water
Conservation Districts (AISWCD). As divisions of
the AISWCD, Districts are grouped together in
Land Use Councils by region. The SWCDs within
the counties of Lake, Winnebago, McHenry, Boone,
Kane, DuPage, DeKalb, Will and Cook make up the
Northeastern Illinois Land Use Council 16
(‘LUC16’). LUC16 meets quarterly to address
regional natural resource issues, share ideas,
develop regional programs and coordinate their
efforts at the regional and state levels. The
Leopold Education Project is one such effort
made by the Northeastern Illinois LUC16. |
Leopold Education
Project
In 1988 Land Use Council 16 undertook the
Leopold Education Project with the goals of
raising the public’s awareness about the
pressures on our environment and spreading
Leopold’s idea of a “land ethic”. A workbook of
hand’s on activities based on Leopold's A Sand
County Almanac was developed for use in schools.
Teacher workshops were held, and class sets of
the Almanac were distributed.
In 1994, in an effort to take the Leopold
Education Project nationwide, the program was
purchased by Pheasants Forever. Moneys from the
sale are set up in a trust to provide
scholarships for students pursuing an education
in the natural resources field. |
LEP Scholarship
Program
The Leopold Education Project Scholarship
Program seeks to provide scholarships for
post-high school education awarded to students
seeking a four year degree at an accredited
college or university which will lead to a
career in the natural resources field.
Application must be received by 4:30 p.m. on
April 1st. of each year. |
Program Revisions
The Leopold Education Project Scholarship
Program reserves the right to review the
conditions and procedures of this scholarship
program and to make changes at any time
including termination of the scholarship
program. |
Scholarship Awardees
Land Use Council 16 was pleased to be able to
award two scholarships in 2008. The winning
applications came from Cary in McHenry County
and the town of Hampshire located in Kane
County. |
| Our McHenry County recipient attended Dundee
Crown High School, is a former boy scout, has
participated in local recycling programs, a past
member of the Outdoors Club, completed many
environmental studies classes in high school,
spent time as a seasonal nursery worker and is a
past
Northeastern Illinois Envirothon
participant. His interest in the impacts of
human behavior on natural ecosystems led him to
place soil and water conservation at the center
of his studies. He hopes to one day help people
recognize soil and water as the foundation of
ecosystems, understand how their behaviors
affect ecosystems and to foster public
appreciation of the natural value of ecosystems
thus balancing the traditional focus on economic
potential. |
| The Kane County scholarship recipient
attended Burlington Central High School,
participates in Habitat for Humanity and
Business Club and has spent time working for a
local landscaping company. He is currently
attending Augustana College where he is majoring
in Business Administration with a minor in
Environmental Studies. He credits his interest
in environmental studies to his personal
observations regarding the effects of urban
sprawl on natural resources. In an effort to
marry environmental responsibility with
society’s rapid growth, he hopes to someday
build an alternative energy company; providing
responsible energy to meet increasing energy
demands.
CONGRATULATIONS!! |
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