Grade 7 students received hands-on environmental science education through the annual Earth Challenge at Scout Island in April.
The education covered topics like water, ecosystems, air, waste, invasive species and climate change.
Earth Challenge includes five days of lessons on these topics at Scout Island throughout April and ending with a full, fun, educational day at Columneetza secondary that includes a Jeopardy-style quiz.
Jenny Howell, Cariboo-Chilcotin Conservation Society executive director, led water education and partnered with the City of Williams Lake for tours of the pump stations located at Scout Island where the students learned about the city’s water supply, an underground aquifer.
“They also learn about what happens to sewage and how they can help prevent environmental contamination,” Howell said. “Having the opportunity to meet city staff and ask questions adds so much depth to the lesson as it goes from abstract concepts on a poster in the classroom to ‘real’ and they see how much effort, science and money is involved with delivering safe water to people’s homes.”
Using chemistry tests on the Williams Lake River flowing out of Williams Lake, students learned how to make connections between how human activity can affect water quality and the ecosystem.
“By the time they reach Grade 7, most students have already received one or more Water Wise classes, so water conservation strategies can be reviewed and reinforced,” Howell said, adding that on Earth Challenge Day, they participated in games and quizzes based on the water cycle, world water issues and previously covered material.
Martin Kruus, Scout Island Nature Centre’s education coordinator, led the ecosystems lesson that included the six regional ecosystems and allowed students to challenge themselves with a “run around” outdoor quiz at Columneetza.
“At the nature centre we visit examples of grasslands and dry forest to taste, smell, feel, see and climb on (Douglas Fir) exemplary plant species,” Kruus said. “The wild onions are usually a favourite.”
At the school, he said teams flowed through 18 stations that check their ability to identify adaptations, species, or features of animals and plants that inhabit the Cariboo-Chilcotin.
For air, students learn about both indoor and outdoor air quality and how human and non-human influences impact our air, contributing to both health and environmental effects.
Students also learn how to check the Air Quality Health Index and PurpleAir monitors online to see how good or poor the air is at different times in Williams Lake and other places in the world.
Alex Mutch, coordinator for Invasive Species Council of B.C., taught students about invasive plants and animals.
"ISCBC covered a range of topics and programs regarding invasive species such as weeds and how to be PlantWise; domestic pets that can become invasive once released, such as goldfish, red ear sliders, and European rabbits and our Don’t Let it Loose program to discourage further spread,” Mutch said. Students learned to clean and dry boats to prevent the spread of invasive species as well.
For waste, Oliver Berger and Mary Forbes from the CCCS took the students on a dump tour.
Berger touched on trash, including how to divert organics to create compost, wood for biomass or even how to make some money from metal recycling.
The tour also included a visit to the Electronics Recycling Depot, Petro Canada Bulk Plant for Oil and Antifreeze Collection, and the Potato House Project to discuss food waste and growing food from compost.
Climate change instructor Ben Tudor provided separate lessons, as well as activities during Earth Challenge focusing on building a scientific understanding of impacts.
“Often, big world issues like climate change can seem very confusing or far away, so our classes were all about figuring out the nuts and bolts – understanding the carbon cycle, how greenhouse gases warm up the planet, and digging into our daily practices to figure out what it is humans are doing that leads to this problem.”
Students also brainstormed solutions, such as being less dependent on vehicles, consuming less, and reducing waste and energy, as well as the importance of people from different sectors being involved.
“Because climate change will shape the world that these kids will become adults in, building awareness of the issue early on helps to prepare and inform the decisions they will make down the road.”
On Earth Challenge Day, other community presenters provided further activities and presentations, including those from the Alex Fraser Research Forest and fisheries technicians who offered a coho salmon carcass dissection.
Erin Hitchcock is an Air Aware educator with Scout Island Nature Centre. Visit the website at breatheasywilliamslake.org to read more and follow along on Facebook at Air Aware Williams Lake.
