May 9, 2026 Issue, Page 11 of 12

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The Elk City News NEWS SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2026 • 11 Outdoor Classroom Features SWOSU Faculty and Student-Led Activities Faculty and students from about biodiversity and natu- Southwestern Oklahoma ral history through direct ob- State University (SWOSU) servation and discussion. helped lead science education Dr. Rickey Cothran, Grace activities during the 2026 Aghasedo, Austin Buchanan Outdoor Classroom at Rad- and Camile Crossland led a er Park, where fourth-grade station on aquatic inverte- students from across the area brates collected from local participated in hands-on les- water bodies, where students sons focused on local ecosys- viewed specimens through WTC Teacher Prep Student and Canute High School Junior Paige Ashmore teaching Elk City 3rd grade students about Temperature. tems. dissecting and compound The Deer Creek Conser- microscopes. Faculty and vation District organized students explained the or- Western Technology Center Teacher Prep Students Lead the Outdoor Classroom as a day of field-based learning centered on local ecosys- ganisms’ roles in freshwater ecosystems. The event also gave SWO- Outdoor Classroom Experience for Elk City Third Graders tems. SWOSU participants presented stations on native wildlife, fossils and aquatic SU students opportunities to share scientific knowl- edge with younger learners Western Technology Center lum developed specifically for Students also got to hear from Schools’ curriculum. For the invertebrates. Students exam- through community out- (WTC) Teacher Prep students the Outdoor Classroom experi- Cassandra Ausher with North- third-grade students, the Out- ined specimens and learned reach. The Outdoor Class- recently partnered with Elk ence by Robin Coffman, Curric- fork Red River Conservation. door Classroom offered an im- about Oklahoma’s natural re- room continues to be an im- City Public Schools to deliver ulum Director for Elk City Pub- Cassandra spoke to the students mersive learning environment sources. portant outreach initiative, hands-on environmental educa- lic Schools. The lessons engaged about the Outdoor Classroom that connected classroom in- Dr. Renan Bosque, Jon- connecting young students tion to third-grade students at young learners through interac- site and the watersheds. struction with nature. athan Almanza, Dawn with local ecosystems while the North Fork of the Red River tive stations covering topics such The event provided WTC Western Technology Center is Bearden-Willett, Clara Lo- providing SWOSU students Conservation District’s Outdoor as temperature, water quality, Teacher Prep students with valu- proud to continue collaborative pez, Erika Kline, Eric Mesta valuable opportunities to Classroom in Elk City. bird nests, seasons and phenol- able real-world teaching experi- partnerships that support edu- and Wake Frymire represent- share their knowledge and Under the guidance of Teacher ogy, plant life cycles, seeds, poi- ence while reinforcing science cator preparation and enriched ed the SWOSU Natural His- passion for science. Prep instructor Lena Lewallen, sonous plants and insects, and and environmental concepts learning opportunities for area tory Museum. Their station For more information WTC students taught curricu- nature-based bookmark crafts. aligned with Elk City Public students. introduced students to frogs, about SWOSU Biological & snakes, lizards, fossils and Biomedical Sciences, vis- other organisms found in it https://www.swosu.edu/bi- Oklahoma. Students learned ological-sciences/index.php. ble, water temperature 65°F and manche County. murky. (USGS Lake Level) Blue and channel catfish good on cut Tom Steed: April 27. Elevation bait, punch bait, and shad around is 3 ft. below normal and sta- main lake and points. White bass ble, water temperature 67°F and and crappie fair on jigs, min- clear. (USACE Lake Level) Crap- nows, sassy shad, and small lures pie good on jigs and minnows around brush structure, docks, around brush structure, rocks, rocks, and shorelines. Report and shorelines. White bass on submitted by Mike Carroll, game crankbaits, jigs, minnows, and warden stationed in Comanche sassy shad around points and County. rocks. Report submitted by Da- NORTHWEST Foss: April 26. Elevation is be- vid Smith, game warden sta- Canton: April 28. Elevation low normal and falling, water Fort Cobb: April 28. Elevation tioned in Kiowa County. is normal and stable, water tem- temperature 67°F and clear. (US- is normal and stable, water tem- perature 63°F and clear. (USACE ACE Lake Level) Largemouth perature 65°F and stained. (US- Waurika: April 26. Eleva- Lake Level) White bass good and smallmouth bass good on ACE Lake Level) Blue and chan- tion is normal and stable, on jigs and lipless baits around buzz baits, crankbaits, and spin- nel catfish fair on cut bait, punch water temperature 70°F and river mouth. Crappie slow on nerbaits around brush structure, bait, and shad around main lake, murky. Largemouth bass, minnows around brush struc- coves, and standing timber. Wall- points, and shorelines. Report striped bass hybrids, and crap- ture. Report submitted by Jaylen eye good on crawfish, flukes, submitted by Justin Cornett, pie fair on crankbaits, hair jigs, Flynn, game warden stationed in sassy shad, and shrimp around game warden stationed in Caddo jigs, lipless baits, minnows, Blaine County. dam, main lake, and rocks. Crap- County. plastic baits, PowerBait, small pie good on jerk baits, minnows, lures, spinnerbaits, and tube Fort Supply: April 27. Eleva- small lures, and spinnerbaits Lawtonka: April 26. Elevation jigs below the dam, docks, tion is normal and stable, water around coves, points, and shore- is normal and stable, water tem- main lake, points, rocks, and temperature 66°F and stained. lines. Report submitted by Clint perature 65°F and clear. (USACE shorelines. Blue and channel (USACE Lake Level) Crappie fair Carpenter, game warden sta- Lake Level) White bass and crap- catfish fair on chicken liver, on minnows around rocks. Re- tioned in Custer County. pie on jigs, minnows, and small stinkbait, and worms below the port submitted by Jason Badley, lures around brush structure, dam, docks, main lake, points, game warden stationed in Harp- SOUTHWEST docks, rocks, and shorelines. Re- and rocks. Report submitted by er County. Ellsworth: April 26. Elevation port submitted by Mike Carroll, Tucker Clem, game warden sta- is 7 ft. below normal and sta- game warden stationed in Co- tioned in Jefferson County.