The World beneath your feet:  Soils trailer

history

In 2006, Butler SWCD District started the process to create a mobile educational display. With the help of the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, the District renovated a 35 foot trailer into an impressive educational exhibit showing soil and water.

Butler SWCD is proud to be able to have the opportunity to share this great project to educate both children and adults through this educational display. Since the launch of the trailer in 2009, the district has assisted several other organizations with their own representations including a water trailer, a proposed forestry trailer, and a potential water treatment exhibit.

​In 2012, the trailer received an Outstanding Grant Project award from the Ohio EPA's Ohio Environmental Education Fund. To learn more about these awards and grants, visit OEEF's website.

target curriculum

  • Elementary/3rd Grade: Students learn about Earth's natural resources, including soils, water, and wildlife. Topics also lend toward resources that are living, nonliving, and/or limited. Nonliving resources as well as the energy resources they represent, such as water, air, rock, and soil, have specific properties.
  • Events: This trailer is appropriate for staffed events such as at parks, fairs, and community events. Visitors are both educated and engaged through interaction with Earth's living and nonliving natural resources. Teachable moments lend toward the basic needs of living things, the vitality of soil and water, and how living things impact our Earth's environments.

trailer features

​Play in the dirt without getting dirty with a hands-on experience inside a 35-foot trailer. Guests walk through an underground world and explore the relationship between soil and water through specimen drawers that house fossils and models of aquatic creatures, as well as fabricated models of storm drains, drainage tile, plant roots and an aquifer. Interactive question and answer boards guide guests to the conclusion that water ecology is directly connected to the choices we make as humans.

Mobile Education Display
  • Impressive educational exhibit displaying Earth's Natural Resources, such as soil and water
  • Educates and engages both children and adults through interaction.
  • Energy is conserved as the trailer is converted to run on solar power: "Renewable and Sustainable" Clean Energy!
  • Touch Screen Kiosk: Interactive Tree Stump can be requested to use at events to learn more about the conservation of soil, water and energy.
  • For additional trailer features, please visit the Butler SWCD Website and experience an animated adventure:

logistics

The soils trailer is a custom 35-foot trailer with a 7-foot ceiling. It features a rear door that folds down to create a ramped entrance that is wheel chair accessible and suitable for visitors who may need mobility assistance. The trailer needs a space that is approximately 50 feet and a clear area (clearance) of 75 feet for maneuverability and parking.

Specific dimensions:
  • Height- ?
  • Length- 35’
  • Length with ramp - 45’
  • Width- ?

Cones will need placed at the end of the trailer (10 ft. out) to allow additional space to lower the ramp at events.

scheduling

  • Inside of Butler County, Ohio: The Soils Trailer is free to use at Butler County Schools (public and private) and events when it is available. Butler SWCD rents out the trailer for others to use outside of Butler County, Ohio. Please contact Butler SWCD to schedule accordingly. Butler SWCD places priority scheduling within Butler County Schools and asks to be contacted by other SWCD Districts after such requests take place (August 1st of the corresponding academic year).
  • Inside of Warren County, Ohio: Upon scheduling through Warren SWCD, the Soils Trailer is free to use with 3rd Grade Classes in Warren County Schools (public and private) and outreach events based on availability. Respectfully, Butler SWCD asks to be notified by other SWCD Districts after Butler County Schools are scheduled (August of corresponding academic year). Please provide advance notice for Warren SWCD to coordinate scheduling with Butler SWCD. Scheduling confirmation with Butler SWCD will then take place mid to late August or thereafter. The Soils Trailer may be utilized at an event without a Warren SWCD representative upon which directions will be provided. The trailer must be continually staffed as well as facilitated during program or event use. Such affiliates are responsible to maintain proper use of the Soils Trailer while utilized.
  • PRIORITY RESERVATION Inside of Warren County: In order to facilitate priority reservation outside of Butler County, you must call and schedule the trailer directly with Butler SWCD. When making a reservation outside of Butler County, there is a rental fee to help pay for travel and upkeep. (Warren SWCD pays this fee when scheduled through our district.) There is a Butler SWCD deposit and rental agreement that must be signed. Full information about renting the trailer through Butler SWCD can be found in the rental agreement brochure on the Butler SWCD Website.
Staff Contact: Marta Farrell, SWCD  Education Specialist Email: marta.farrell@co.warren.oh.us or call 513-695-2556.
Questions?  E-mail or call anytime!

peek inside our soils trailer!

Soil Trailer Sponsors

We would like to perpetually thank our funders and sponsors!
​This exhibit would not be possible with out these generous donors.