The most important educational activity the MSCD does during the year is Close Encounters with Agriculture. This three week program involves about 2500 fourth grade students from across the County and represents a comprehensive agriculture experience for these young people. Close Encounters is done in cooperation with the Montgomery Cooperative Extension and other agricultural agencies and groups.

Many young people today are unaware of the benefits agriculture provides and of their responsibility to be good stewards of the land. Close Encounters with Agriculture provides a rare opportunity for these students to enjoy a hands-on learning experience, which can really have an impact on their lives. The children go home and teach their parents about the things they learned, increasing the benefits of the program even further. MSCD coordinates the Environmental track of the Close Encounters program, which includes Soils, Aquatics, Wildlife Habitat, Watershed Conservation and other areas.

For more information on the Enivronmental track of Close Encounters, or if you are interested in volunteering for this program, please contact David Plummer.

Wildlife Habitate Game

Soils