Education Protects the Watershed
WATR is engaged with the community to help educate our citizens of all ages about the importance of watershed protection, conservation, and monitoring. WATR participates in Mountain Erosion Control Trainings, School and Youth Group Outings, and area events.
We’d love to have you join us. Stay tuned for upcoming trainings and resources.
Summer STEM Camp Students Learn About River Ecosystems & Rafting
In the summer of 2022, fifty-four Swain County Summer STEM Camp students in grades 3 through 8 spent a morning exploring and adventuring in the Tuckasegee River ecosystem at Island Park. The eco-splash program was led by Need More Outdoors, a Swain County nonprofit whose mission is to empower young people through outdoor adventures and nature-based education in western North Carolina, and their partners Endless River Adventures, Mainspring Conservation Trust, and The Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River (WATR). The kids learned about the different macroinvertebrates and fish species in the Tuckasegee River and what makes a healthy river ecosystem. They also learned how to maneuver rafts on moving water and the physics behind rope angles and paddle strokes. The kids had a fabulous time, and the teachers were excited about the active hands-on learning their students experienced in the great outdoors.
“Our partnership with Need More Outdoors provided a fun, educational experience for our STEM Camp participants. Their focus on outdoor activities and safety, combined with an emphasis on our regional ecology, provides our youth with a way of connecting to this region in a fun and informative way. Connecting our local youth to the outdoors strengthens their education as well as pride in what our mountains can offer them.”
– Evan Clapsaddle, Federal Programs Director for Swain County Schools
Education Efforts – Creek Club at Cullowhee Valley School
The Cullowhee Valley Creek Club is funded and supported by the Smoky Mountain STEM Collaborative. We at WATR are one of the partners in this Collaborative, supported by a grant from the NASA Science Mission Directorate. Twelve fourth and fifth graders from Cullowhee Valley School participate in the creek club. Meeting one weekly afternoon and focusing on math and science in an authentic outdoor learning space (Cullowhee Creek) makes Creek Club different. Participants of the Creek Club are comparing macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity in different creek habitats this fall. The Creek Club participants learn science and math by asking questions, researching, and presenting their findings. WATR will present the Creek Clubs’ research at SCC’s STEAM night on Thursday, December 1, 2022.
WATR Education In Action
SMIE – Stream Monitoring Information Exchange
This past summer of 2022, Karen Kandl, a board member of WATR, participated in a six-hour training session to learn stream benthic macroinvertebrate identification and sampling methods. Karen also became certified as a group leader for SMIE. SMIE is “The details of species presence and abundances provide insights into the health of the watersheds. EQI is performing statistical analysis of the data, interpreting the results in technical reports, and distributing the information to stakeholders, including the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources, SMIE partner organizations, and the public.” Contact us today for information on SMIE training, hours, and more!