Bug/Weed & GPS/GIS Business

       Through grants provided by State and Private Forestry, the US Forest Service, the Townsend Ranger District, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, the Charlotte Martin Foundation, the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation and the Montana Department of Agriculture the Townsend School District started a school based enterprise.  The enterprise includes an on-site insectary (which grows insects for biological control of weeds), a public weed education information center and a GPS/GIS mapping service.  Students, teachers, staff and administration from Broadwater High School (BHS) are involved in the operation of this "hands on" approach to education. One of the many goals of this project is to create a self-sustaining enterprise.

      BHS students are trained in weed identification through required biology and earth science curriculum.  Students are also offered the opportunity to take a semester long class in GPS, GIS and Arc View.  Students received this specialized training as an elective class.

      Our goal is to provide students with a well rounded education where they can be actively involved in the learning process and immediately apply the skills and knowledge acquired.  Upon graduation, our expectation is to also provide these students with marketable employment skills.  The students gain real life experiences through their involvement in this project.  Wages for the students employed by the enterprise are set competitively to entice them into working in their community.  Students are interviewed and selected for these paid positions.  This provides incentives for students to acquire the knowledge necessary to participate in the ongoing enterprise.

      We charge by the hour for GPS/GIS services provided (per person working on the project).  Teachers (supervisors) are billed at a higher hourly rate than students.  One teacher is required to be working at the same time as our students (up to five students per teacher).  These hourly fees are all inclusive.  Fees are set to include not only the employee wages but administrative costs, supplies, equipment, and facilities.  For current pricing, or questions on the enterprise, please contact the School-To-Work Coordinator-Mia Whitfield (406-266-4982 or 406-980-0068) or the School Superintendent-Briant Patrick (406-266-5512).  Field and mapping services are calculated at the same hourly rate.  Field work, however, may also be charged mileage (calculated at the Montana State rate).  We are currently using Etrex GPS units.  Our computer mapping lab consists of 20 Dell computers loaded with ArcView software. Purchase of biological control agents is based on the type of insect requested and whether or not we will be doing the release.(Back)

Project Summary And Objectives

         This project has included funding from State and Private Forestry, the Forest Service, Townsend Ranger District, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, Charlotte Martin Foundation,  Montana Department of Agriculture and the Townsend School District.  Other partners have included Broadwater County Extension Office and Weed District, Montana State University Western Agriculture Center, Bureau of Land Management, Department of Military, Rail Link, Jim Larson Stillwater County GIS/Weed District Education and Development Specialist and Todd Breitenfeldt science teacher and insectary coordinator at the Whitehall School District.  Some of the primary objectives of the project include:      

1. 1. Creating a highly visible weed/bug insectary that will establish a “crop” of biological agents as well as a public forum for education.

2. 2. Students utilizing the project to educate the public on noxious weeds including their history, impact and control agents.

3. 3. Establishing field sites within the county to help with weed control at the same time insect “crops” are being produced.

4. 4. Provide a potential resource of biological control agents for knapweed in Broadwater county in the future years.

5. 5. Offer specialized educational opportunities to the Broadwater County students in many areas including science, GPS/GIS and business.

6. 6. Create a self-sustaining school-based-enterprise that will be an educational tool covering all aspects of business (through marketing, sales  and distribution of biological control agents as well as a GPS/GIS mapping service).

7. 7. Utilize the project to design science curriculum for classrooms meeting the Montana Standards for Education.  Phase I of the project will include curriculum for high school (9-12 grade).  Phase II and III will include curriculum for grades K-8. Develop a protocol for other agencies and educational institutions to be able to incorporate and utilize.

         This project will be modeled after other successful joint research/educational projects.  The projects include insectaries at the Whitehall School District, Stillwater County and the Montana State University Western Agriculture Center.

         The project will start with the high school science teacher, Mr. Pete Robischon, developing and integrating weed units into his curriculum.  All high school students will receive these units in their studies and educators will continue to refine and expand classroom curriculum.  All high school students will have a diverse background in the project created by sufficient and continued exposure.  This will provide for project sustainability because students who graduate or drop out of the summer program can easily be replaced.  It is our hope that this project will encourage and motivate students to reach a higher academic level and to continue their education in a related field upon graduation.

         Students will be selected for summer employment on the project.  These students will be under the direct supervision of the Student Supervisors/Educators, Towsend School District teachers, who will be also be employed by the project.

         The students and the supervisor will establish and maintain insect release sites.  The areas will include the school insectary as well as sites located on private and public lands.  These students will be involved in GPS/GIS mapping of weeds in the county (including but not limited to insectary sites).  They will develop educational tools and interpretive signs for the on-site school insectary.  These students will be required to participate in a wide range of activities in order to achieve the objectives of the project.

         We feel the project will generate a high level of community interest.  Local farmers and ranchers and County Agents have already approached us about exploring biological control management practices on their land as well as helping them map weeds.  They recognize this as an opportunity to gather information as well as a way to put biological control agents to work on some of their land parcels.

         The Supervisors/Educators possess a high level of enthusiasm and connection with the public.  This will help ensure a successful project where meaningful science and community education can take place as well as a viable student based business.  (Back)

Justification for the Project

         The control of noxious weeds on public and private lands has grown increasingly problematic.   Weed infestations continue their spread.  Public awareness of the problem is actually declining as a larger density of people move into Broadwater Counties towns and cities.  Many of them come from communities where noxious weeds were not a factor in their daily lives.  This project will allow us to educate the public and help gain their support  and understanding of the importance of weed control.  By gaining an understanding the public is more likely to monetarily support weed eradication issues within the county. 

        The use of biological weed controls is not new to Broadwater County.  A few land owners, the US Forest Service, the County,  and BLM have been using these agents.  These people will offer local experience and expertise to the project. 

        Public pressure in other states has also started mitigation against chemical and some forms of mechanical control (like grazing by domestic animals).  In these instances biological weed control will move to the forefront in the war on weeds.  Perhaps our school-base-enterprise can help meet these new demands.  (Back)

Educational Objectives

1. 1. Since 2001 all our 10-12 grade students are being exposed to educational units on weeds, their identification and their control agents.  By 2007 ALL students (K-12) in the Townsend School District (enrollment averaging 750 students) will be studying weeds to some extent each year.

2. 2. Grades 10-12 will become knowledgeable on specific insect’s life cycles and their use as bio-control agents.  They will know how to raise, transport and release insects into an ecosystem and completed units on entomology, botany and ecology.

3. 3. Students will be allowed to enroll in an elective class on GPS/GIS and Arc View.  In this class they will gain a valuable job skill as they learn how to use the GPS units to create maps (starting with weed mapping for the community).

4. 4. Students will increase their understanding of the scientific process by observing and participating in the on-site insectary (providing them with a relevant and long-term research project).

5. 5. Students will be exposed to helping run a small business and working toward making it self-sustaining and profitable.  (Back)

Objectives for Summer Employees

1. 1. The students employed for the summer project will become experts on specific insect’s life cycles and their use as bio-control agents.  They will know how to raise, transport and release insects into an ecosystem.

2. 2. These students will become proficient at marking and mapping insectary sites and weeds within the county utilizing GPS/GIS and Arc View.

3. 3. Students will work to help educate the general public about weeds and biological control agents by producing signs for the insectary site, giving presentations, writing articles for the local newspaper and interacting with area farmers and ranchers.

4. 4. Students will improve their understanding of, and their ability to perform, these relevant scientific skills: experimental design, library research, field study methods for site monitoring and data collection, data analysis, etc.  They will also gain valuable job skills including: work ethics, responsibility, communication, mentoring, preparing and giving presentations, interacting with the public, etc.  (Back)

Site Specifics

1. 1. During the first year of the project (2001/2002) one controlled insectary site was constructed on the school grounds.  Other insect release sites are being established yearly throughout the county.  Sites are selected based on the degree of infestation of noxious weeds, accessibility to the site, cooperation of the land owner or caretaker and isolation from site disturbances.

2. 2. We will concentrate our bio-control efforts on knapweed.  The exact insect species used will be determined in consultation with our partners in the project.  The root boring weevil (Agapeta Zoegana) will probably be released at all these sites as well as other biological control agents we can procure from the project partners or with project funds.

3. 3. The summer students will collect data from all the sites under the supervision of the project leader.  Noxious weeds for the site will be mapped before insects are released.  Plant and insect specie counts will be monitored yearly.  Data from each site will be summarized on an annual basis.  Re-collection and distribution of insects will occur as the area becomes saturated with the bio-control agents.  (Back)

Anticipated Site Results

         Establishing colonies of bio-control agents for future weed control by increasing location sites every year during the project.  See a decrease in the targeted weed population and an increase in the desired native plant species on an annual basis.  (Back)

Sponsors and Partnerships

         This project would not be possible without the financial support provided by various organizations and matching funds provided by the Townsend School District.  The partnerslisted below provide various degrees of support including financial, in-kind services, personnel, expertise, products, training, etc.  Current and past partners include:

      BROADWATER COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE & WEED DISTRICT

      CHARLOTTE MARTIN FOUNDATION

          Contact:  Linda Pancheri, Administrator (206) 587-3621

      DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS

          Contacts:  Dave Burch, Weed Coordinator (406) 444-5400

     MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION

          Contact:  Charlotte Lewis  (406) 266-3146 Ext. 104

          Contact:  Scott Bell, Rural Community Assistance Coordinator  (801) 625-5259

      TOWNSEND RANGER DISTRICT

           Contact:  Dianne Johnson, Forest Service Noxious Weed Coordinator (406) 266-3425

      TOWNSEND SCHOOL DISTRICT

          Contacts:  Brian Patrick, Superintendent    (406) 266-5512

                          Alane Dinsdale, High School Business & GPS/GIS ArcView Teacher, Supervisor for Summer Project

                          John O'Dell, Supervisor for Summer Project

                          Mia Whitfield, School-to-Work (406) 266-4982 or  (406) 980-0068

      WHITEHALL SCHOOL DISTRICT

          Contact:  Todd Breitenfeldt, Science Teacher & Insectary Coordinator    (406) 287-3862  (Back)

Project Duration & Budget Overview

         The intent is to continue, as well as expand the project, for an indefinite period of time.  The project would only be terminated if we could not procure funding or become self-sustaining.  Complete weed eradication in our area would also cause the project to be terminated.

         Mia Whitfield (Townsend School-to-Work Coordinator) will be applying for contracts and grants to fund any future phases that may be required to complete/maintain the project.  Our plan is to have the student/teacher enterprise become self-sustaining (with contract work) by the year 2009/2010.  (Back)

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Questions Or Comments

         If you have any questions or comments concerning this project please contact Mia Whitfield at the Townsend Schools (406-266-4982 or 406-980-0068).   (Back)