Kids in the Creek
Kids in the Creek
USFWS
Students have a hands-on experience exploring the wonders of this unique ecosystem at seven stations, including a culminating activity at the end of the field day:
- Invert Investigator - Students explore the creek ecosystem searching for life unseen from the water’s surface. Once the discovery is made, there are many questions to be answered, such as: What is an aquatic macroinvertebrate? How can you tell the difference between one and another? Why are they important to the watershed?
- Habitat Sense- Students survey a pool, riffle, or glide and look at substrate, vegetation cover, woody debris and other factors that determine the suitability of a site for aquatic life.
- Riparian Rx - Students discover the riparian ecosystem's flora, fauna, soil, and the geomorphology that influences a watershed.
- Water Quality - Students address water quality and its importance for a healthy watershed. They predict the outcome and test water chemical properties to verify their conjectures.
- Water Flow - Students continue to address water's importance for a healthy watershed. They predict, measure and calculate the rate of flow and connect water dynamics with water quality.
- Fish Health - Learning how fish health is directly affected by the health of a stream is the focus of this activity. Students participate in scientific experiments that demonstrate survivability of local fish species.
- Watershed Wonders - This station serves as the day's closing activity, requiring students to draw upon their newly acquired knowledge for a simulation of land use planning.
This award-winning curriculum and new video brochure can be found on a partner website, Cascadia Conservation District. The curriculum is designed to better prepare classroom teachers, students, and resource specialists for the program and is available to those wishing to direct a Kids in the Creek Program in their own local watershed.
