First Summer Science Leadership Academy Held on Audubon Center Campus

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Students used field tools such as D nets, binoculars, GPS units, compasses, topographic maps, water monitoring equipment and field guides. They learned native plants and animals, identified land and water insects, explored in canoes, and searched for geo-cache sites. Educators and students worked together to identify how to take these experiences back to schools and their communities.

Heat, humidity, and summer insects were a challenge not only for campers, but also for the six interns who helped shepherd the academy attendees through the course. Nonetheless, the interns came early and stayed late to develop team strategies, learn to use the equipment and manage the camp. Many thanks to student interns: Leah Chancellor of Bryant High School (HS); Dreykus Lowe and Amber Ray of Central HS; Shy'Khan Franklin of Granite Mountain; David Clark of Hendrix College; and Jessica Lockhart of Mills HS.

What made it all worthwhile? For Leah, it was an opportunity to study dissolved oxygen, phosphates, nitrates, turbidity, and water quality bio-indicators like mayflies. For Jessica, it was finding out about trees and insects she never knew existed. For Dreykus, it was thinking about the impact of freeways, power lines, and car exhaust impacting water and habitat.