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Stream Scholars 2004 Stream Scholars in Other Years: 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Another year of Stream Scholars is over, We had a group of interesting and interested kids, and some invited guests helped spice up the week. Here's what we did: Day 1 was water quality day, and the campers learned how to sample a stream, and analyze the water for pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, total phosphorus, reactive phosphorus, alkalinity, and fecal coliform bacteria. On Day 2 we explored the physical stream, comparing how rivers form in different environments, and learned how to assess a stream's condition by looking at its surroundings. Alana Hartman, WVDEP's Potomac Basin Coordinator, joined us for the morning. On Day 3, Tim Craddock, Citizen's Monitoring Coordinator from WV Division of Environmental Protection, taught the kids how to use bugs (well, really, benthic macroinvertebrates = stream bottom dwelling organisms without backbones that are big enough to see with the naked eye) to assess stream health. Tim has done a wonderful job advancing the science of volunteer stream assessment and has taught the new methods to citizen and student groups all around our state. Day 4 was devoted to mini-projects designed by the campers. Rebekah collected water quality data in the stream that runs by her home in Wardensville, with an eye towards designing a science fair project for competition this spring. Justin used a stratified sampling design to explore possible sources of elevated phosphorus in Skaggs Run (that we discovered on Day 1 of camp). Shelby wanted to know if dissolved oxygen and pH in Skaggs Run changed during the day, and Justin and Johnny explored fish size in different stream habitats. At the end of the day, each group presented their results to their peers, and local science teacher Janet Gillies - who just happened to be nearby.
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