Benjamin Logan Environmental Science Club members recently learned about the river ecosystems and other outdoor climates recently from a guest speaker, Donnie Knight of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
He began by sharing his educational background and career path. He told the students that his first research position was in a study of frogs in the high desert of Oregon. Mr. Knight then spoke about riparian zones, the green corridors along a stream or river. He shared how these areas along streams serve as a filter during flooding and are important as habitat for wildlife.
Following the talk, the students participated in a simulation designed to show how environmental factors in one area influence the river ecosystem downstream.
During the simulation, teams of students were charged with planning and developing a section of river front property. As each team revealed their use of the river, they passed along to the teams downstream, objects intended to represent pollution caused by unwise land use practices.
The activity is from Project Wet, an award winning non-profit water education program available to all teachers K-12.
In other recent club activities, the group tracked the course of the Mad River during hayride activities at Stoll farm near Zanesfield. Jordan Hoewischer, Ohio Farm Bureau director of water quality, spoke to the group about the interrelatedness of water quality and agricultural practices. The students learned that filter strips, maintaining the riparian zone, and the use of cover crops can have a direct effect on the Mad River as an aquatic ecosystem.
The club meets again later this month to “winterize” Benjamin Logan’s martin house, bluebird trail, bee hive, and other components of the “Growing Gardens, Growing Minds”initiative.