OUR
VISION: in
thirty years, a stream without a buffer will look as out of place as a
smoker in a conference room does today.
To foster that vision, our environmental education
programs focus on students first and, through them, the larger
community. We are:
Continuing to Develop our
Potomac Highlands Watershed School to build a
community of learners and problem solvers among students, teachers,
volunteers, and experts throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed that
is open to anyone, anywhere, free of charge, year-round;
Involving students in living laboratory programs using the power of
the web to communicate, collaborate on monitoring techniques and
field experiences, and share data to build a regional discussion on
environmental issues;
Working to support the NOAA B-WET goal of encouraging "the
development of partnerships among environmental education programs
throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed”;
Encouraging community-based conservation organizations to use
the PHWS eForums, other PHWS activities,
and other CI Programs (such as PHLOW) as tools to engage their local
schools in substantive curriculum based programs to help strengthen
their organizations, become better educated themselves, recruiting a
new generation of members, and increasing their visibility and
effectiveness.
Our education programs are helping to
foster a generation of youth connected with their communities and
prepared to be informed, active citizens and leaders for improved water
quality, sustainable habitats and living resources, and improved local
watersheds.
The Potomac Highlands Watershed
Schoolwas created to increase understanding of important water quality
and watershed issues in West Virginia's Potomac Highlands - and, by
extension, much of Appalachia. The watershed school has lessons about
watersheds, water pollution, and land-use planning. Regional
issues underlie each lesson, and many are as relevant for adults as school
children. For example, the pollution curriculum is based on West
Virginia's efforts to help clean up the Chesapeake Bay. To learn more
about the school, click here. Go
to the school here. Hint: a fast connection helps. Another
hint: click on objects and words to get "behind" the picture.
The Potomac Highlands
Watershed School took first
place in the North American Adobe/Tech Soup design
contest for non-profitsin the
“Environmental Impact: Other Media” category.
Adobe, as part of its corporate social responsibility commitment,
provides products and training to non profit organizations to address
critical issues in our communities. Adobe sponsored the contest to
learn about the impact their software recipients are making through
words, images, and design. Our internet based eSchool that owes its
appearance and much of its personality to Adobe’s products. In their
award letter, they wrote:
“Congratulations!
Your project has been selected as a winner in the Adobe Show Your Impact
contest! We were truly moved and inspired by the excellent work that you
are doing and the positive impact that you are having on the community
you serve.”
The
2010 Stream Cleaner
Environmental Forum runs is over. Take a look by
clicking on the phone in the High School.For over five weeks
students will join classmates and students from other Chesapeake Bay
watershed schools (from MD, DC, VA, WV) in exploring one of the most complex environmental
problems ever to confront the United States - saving the Chesapeake Bay
from decades of pollution. The lessons are posted now,
and classes are strongly encouraged to begin the lessons as soon as they
can.
Click
here
to learn more about eForums or sign up to participate. Click
here
to see a participating school list and a map.
Participating schools also have a chance to receive technical
and financial support to design and implement their own
real-world best management practice projects -
like these.
Oh Deer! 2009
ran from October 12 to November 20, 2009.
It
is in the final stage with classes from West
Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania preparing
their consensus papers.
Participating
classes will seek a consensus
approach
to deer population management that strikes an acceptable balance
between people, deer, and the environment. Take
a look by clicking on the phone in the
High School.
*To help students visualize
some problems caused by too many deer, we
created a short Flash slide show about deer impacts on our
forested lands (at right).
Click
here
to learn more about eForums or sign up to participate.
The 2009 Stream Cleaner
Environmental Forum ran from
March 9 to April 10, 2009.For over five weeks
students joined classmates and students from other Chesapeake Bay
watershed schools in exploring one of the most complex environmental
problems ever to confront the United States - saving the Chesapeake Bay
from decades of pollution. Participating schools also had a chance to receive technical
and financial support to design and implement their own
real-world best management practice projects -
like these.
30 classes in four states (PA, VA, MD, WV) and DC signed up. Look at this
Google Map
to see where they were.
Stream Scholars Through the Years . . .
Stream Scholars is
CI's hands-on exploration of stream ecology and conservation for middle
and high school students.
Stream Scholars Summer Camp 2009 ran from July
20-24. The 7th Annual campwas a week of new
experiences for middle school students who enjoyed hands-on exploration
in stream ecology and conservation. The Scholars became Certified WV
Save Our Streams water monitors, visited Washington D.C. for a
Chesapeake Bay Foundation research cruise, and camped on the Potomac
River near where it meets the Chesapeake Bay. Perhaps the most
interesting experience was a special tour of George Washington’s
Birth Place National Monument. The Scholars had an interesting look
into the history of the Potomac and how West Virginia has been connected
to the Bay since colonial times. They discussed George Washington’s
visits to West Virginia with Ranger Riji (Rick) Morawe and his staff.
The Scholars learned how Pope Creek, next to the Washington family’s
farm, was 16’ deep in George Washington’s youth and deep enough to
provide anchorage for sea going ships. Returning as an adult
Washington was shocked by how Pope Creek had filled in so much it was no
longer suitable for commercial traffic. President Washington wrote
on how bad farming practices cause erosion, lose fertile top soil, and
cause sedimentation. Today, Pope Creek is only 4’ deep.
CI's Stream Scholars Summer Camp
2008. In its sixth
year, Cacapon Institute’s Stream Scholars Summer Camp had a great group
of returning and new campers. As last year, the camp was held at Waites Run in Wardensville. For the
fourth year,
students had the opportunity to see the other end of the watershed with
a trip down to the Chesapeake Bay on the last two days. They also
met Senator Rockefeller and Congresswoman Capito in Washington DC, and
planted a tree at Tyler Elementary School in downtown DC The trip
was highlighted by a cruise on the 65 foot long R/V Aquarius (one of the
Chesapeake Biological Laboratory's research vessels).
CI's Stream Scholars Summer Camp
2007. In its fifth
year, Cacapon Institute’s Stream Scholars Summer Camp had a great group
of returning and new campers, and a move to Waites Run in Wardensville
as our usual stream was too low to use. For the third year,
students had the opportunity to see the other end of the watershed with
a trip down to the Chesapeake Bay on the last two days. The trip
was highlighted by a cruise on the 65 foot long R/V Aquarius (one of the
Chesapeake Biological Laboratory's research vessels).
CI's Stream Scholars Summer Camp
2006. In its fourth
year, Cacapon Institute’s Stream Scholars Summer Camp was a mixture of
exciting new experiences, a great group of returning and new campers,
and a hopeful look at the future of our streams. For the second
year in a row, students had the opportunity to see the other end of the
watershed with a trip down to the Chesapeake Bay on the last two days.
The trip was highlighted by a cruise on the 65 foot long R/V Aquarius
(one of the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory's research vessels).
CI's Stream Scholars Summer Camp
2005. In its third
year, Cacapon Institute’s Stream Scholars Summer Camp was a mixture of
exciting new experiences, new partnerships that expanded the scope of
the camp, and a sobering look at the future of our streams if we fail to
protect them. Due to popular demand, the
third year
expanded to five days.
CI's Stream Scholars Summer Camp
2004.Stream Scholars is an exciting
hands-on exploration of stream ecology and conservation with
professional scientists. Due to popular demand, the second year
was expanded from three to four days.
CI's Stream Scholars Summer Camp
2003.Stream Scholars is an exciting hands-on exploration of stream ecology and
conservation with professional scientists.
The Institute has long had a presence in the schools in the watersheds where we work. We have staff whose primary job is to establish and maintain classroom and hands on programs
to engage
the interest and continuing participation of substantial numbers of students. We
believe that, in the very long run, helping today's children to become
stakeholders in the river and the watershed may be the most important thing we
can do.
Program activities
range from half-day events for an entire grade-level, to 45-minute interactive
discussions for a single class. They are tailored to suit the needs of students.We schedule activities on a first-come-first served basis
subject to the availability of funds, but usually there is no cost to the
schools or students - thanks to grants from The MARPAT Foundation, the Spring
Creek Foundation, the USEPA
Environmental Education Grants program, and donations from the membership of
Cacapon Institute.A partial list
of activities available includes:
Watershed
Stewardship Fairs.During
this three-hour activity, students rotate between concurrent
mini-demonstrations given by local natural resource professionals.Total group size can range from 30 to 100 students.After the demonstrations, students participate in a panel discussion
with the presenters. Best at the middle school level.
Keep
Well WaterStudy.This two-session activity takes place over three days.The students learn how to test for bacteria in their drinking water,
conduct the test, and then analyze and discuss the results. Best for high
school students.
Around
the Bend
Students analyze mock water quality samples to deduce the condition of a
river, and the likely human activities occurring “around the bend.” Best for 9th through 12th grade.
How
Watersheds Work
Uses a question-driven approach, and simple drawings to illustrate how water
flows through a watershed, and how what people do within a watershed can
promote or harm watershed functioning.Can be tailored to suit almost any grade level.
Stream
in an Envelope Water Quality Exercise.Students identify and tally amazing stream "critters" and
then calculate a stream score using a standardized protocol.This leads to a discussion of factors affecting stream quality,
watershed services and conservation, and the shared nature of water
resources. Great for middle school students.
Drawing
Scientific Conclusions.Students analyze and graph locally-generated quantitative data on
drinking water quality.A good
way to learn about using scientific data, and how water relates to human
health. Best for high school students.
Making Science Real Summer Camp
2004. Campers used an inquiry-driven approach to exploring
and understanding elements of the natural landscape - with hands-on,
project-based activities to make science understandable. This
program was offered in cooperation with Hardy County Schools.
Making Science Real Summer Camp
2003. Campers used an inquiry-driven approach to exploring
and understanding elements of the natural landscape - with hands-on,
project-based activities to make science understandable. This
program was offered in cooperation with Hardy County Schools.
In the watersheds in which we work, our staff makes frequent
presentations to community organizations such as the Ruritan Clubs, the
Friends of the Cacapon and other groups and events like Hampshire Heritage Days. We
try to encourage agricultural conservation techniques which also
are good farming practices. And the Cacapon Institute Newsletter goes to
approximately 1,000 homes and offices two to four times a year.
Cacapon
Institute recently initiated a series of papers with the goal of seeking a more
definitive understanding of water quality issues in the Potomac watershed.
Click here to learn more.
Our education effort has two focuses; within the watersheds in which we work and
out to the wider scientific world. Our current director, Neil Gillies
and our founder, George Constantz have made presentations to government agencies
and at a number of scientific conferences. Similarly, our
publications reach a broad range of people and organizations. We still receive
requests for "Portrait of a River" and the monitoring data which has
been amassed since its original publication.
Cacapon
Institute - From the Cacapon to the Potomac to the Chesapeake Bay,
we protect rivers and watersheds using science and education.
W. Neil Gillies,
Executive Director
Frank Rodgers, Education/Outreach
Website made
possible by funding from The Norcross Wildlife Foundation, the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Virginia Environmental
Endowment, NOAA-BWET, USEPA, The MARPAT Foundation, and our generous
members.