Youth Programs
Environmental Explorers
Students entering grades 4-6
Grab your binoculars, hip boots and come and explore - adventures are waiting for you!
Here's your chance to explore the hidden treasures of science and nature. From mayflies to frogs, the Mississippi River is bursting with life. In this program, the young explorers will have the opportunity to see what types of plants and animals not only live but also thrive in this unique habitat.
You will collect and identify macroinvertebrates, the small "critters" living in the mud and swimming in the water, identify and learn about aquatic plants and trees of the floodplain forest, amphibians and reptiles, observe and identify birds and the nests they make in the floodplain forest, and learn how to sample water quality. Students will also simulate tracking animals with radio transmitters and use the Global Positioning System, aerial photographs, and land use maps to navigate in the forest and prairie.
The program will be held at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC) on French Island. Come experience this adventure in exploration!
STUDENTS WILL:
- Learn and perform field and laboratory techniques used by scientists studying the Upper Mississippi River
- Make distinctions of animal and plant life among three habitats (prairie, floodplain forest and aquatic)
- Develop a greater appreciation for the natural resources of the Upper Mississippi River system
Class size is limited to 40 participants to ensure hands-on participation, so courses fill quickly. Early registration is encouraged. This program is co-sponsored with USGS and UMESC.
2010 Dates to be determined.
Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center, La Crosse
$50, includes instructional materials, use of equipment, lunch each day and souvenir tote bag
For more Information:Karen Langaard, 608.785.6508 or langaard.kare@uwlax.edu