In this issue: Our Leaf Pack Experiment is Done … Now What?; How Students in Kenya Are Using the Leaf Pack Experiment; New Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Life Cycle & Habitat Flashcards.
“How quickly we can poison the earth’s lovely surface — but how wondrously it responds to the educated caress of conservation.” — Donald E. Carr.
Our Leaf Pack Experiment is Done … Now What?
Once you have gotten to know your watershed, learned about your river’s uses, values and threats, and examined its physical habitat, benthic macroinvertebrate community and/or water quality, there are many activities you can do to protect and/or improve your river’s health.
Here are some ideas specifically targeted towards improving stream water quality and making your community aware of the importance of keeping our waterways healthy.
- Plant native trees.
- Identify and remove invasive plants.
- Organize a river, park or highway cleanup.
- Organize a community “Stream Team” to make regular observations about potential problems that might threaten your stream’s health.
- Produce a brochure or poster about your Leaf Pack project with results and display at the library or town hall.
- Make presentations at local public meetings about your project and results.
Got another idea? Then do it … and PLEASE LET US KNOW! We will showcase you in the next newsletter.
Exciting Leaf Pack News!
Find out how students in Kenya are using the Leaf Pack Experiment to understand their local streams.
Welcome Ohio River Watershed!
Thanks to the R.K. Mellon Family Foundation in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, Stroud Water Research Center, and Pennyslvania State Parks teamed up to train teachers in Leaf Pack and the State watershed curriculum, “Watershed Education.”
Ohiopyle and Cook Forest State Parks each hosted a three-day workshop where 23 teachers participated.
New Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Life Cycle & Habitat Flashcards
Help kids understand the life cycle and habitats of freshwater aquatic macroinvertebrates with this set of flashcards and manual.
The 22 full-color cards feature photos of both immature and adult insect stages, and detail life cycle and habitat information. The accompanying manual contains facts on insect characteristics, life cycles, taxonomy, classification, food webs, and how macroinvertebrates can be indicators of water quality.
Instructions for activities with the cards are included. The flashcards can be used as an extension to the Leaf Pack Experiment Stream Ecology Kit. Find out how to order the flashcards.
First World Water Monitoring Day: October 18, 2003
To ensure that Americans and citizens around the globe have clean water for domestic, agricultural, commercial and recreational uses, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is partnering with America’s Clean Water Foundation and the International Water Association to urge people around the world to test the quality of their streams, lakes, wetlands, and coastal waters. For more information visit: http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org.
