Photo of a hand holding a wet leaf with aquatic macroinvertebrates clinging to it.

Become Empowered and Energized Learning About Your Local Watershed!

The Leaf Pack Network® is an international network of teachers, students, and citizen monitors investigating their local stream ecosystems. Following instructions in the Leaf Pack Network Manual, monitors use tree leaves and aquatic insects to determine the health of their stream and understand its ecology.

“Using the aquatic organisms, children can monitor the water quality in their local streams and compare their results with those of others.”
“I love that the Leaf Pack Network provides an authentic learning experience and exposes my students directly to the scientific process.”
“Kids really love it when we take the leaf packs in and all of a sudden the bugs start moving. They really get into it. They get excited about science.”
“It’s amazing to watch students work with the leaf packs. They had no idea that those creatures lived there and could indicate their stream’s health.”

Get Involved!

Individuals participating in the Leaf Pack Network engage in the full process of conducting real research while communicating and sharing their results worldwide. The Leaf Pack Network can be easily implemented in any curriculum and fulfills many state and national science standards.

Discover the value of macroinvertebrates as living indicators of water quality with the Leaf Pack Stream Ecology Kit..

Step 1

Gather materials to conduct the study.

Step 2

Choose a stream that is safely accessible.

The Leaf Pack Network manual has all the information you need to complete a project.

Step 3

Follow instructions in the Leaf Pack or Rock Pack Manual.

Step 4

Share your data on Monitor My Watershed!

Need More Information?

Check the Resources page!
Subscribe to the Leaf Pack Network e-newsletter to be notified about the latest news and events.
Contact us for specific information on how to become involved or for the location of a workshop in your area.

Become Empowered and Energized Learning About Your Local Watershed!

“Using the aquatic organisms, children can monitor the water quality in their local streams and compare their results with those of others.”

“I love that the Leaf Pack Network provides an authentic learning experience and exposes my students directly to the scientific process.”

“Kids really love it when we take the leaf packs in and all of a sudden the bugs start moving. They really get into it. They get excited about science.”

“It’s amazing to watch students work with the leaf packs. They had no idea that those creatures lived there and could indicate their stream’s health.”

Get Involved!

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Leaf Pack Network News

Leaf Pack Network News, Fall 2007

Leaf Pack Network News, Spring 2007

Leaf Pack Network News, Fall 2006

Expanding the New York City Watershed Leaf Pack Network