Ross Vander Vorste, Biology, received a teaching grant from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin. The River Studies Field Course will provide 10–20 undergraduate students, aka River Scholars, a transformative opportunity to learn about Wisconsin’s Grand Water Challenges in August 2026. Accompanied by instructors and student trip leaders, scholars will embark in canoes on a three-day river trip where they will learn basic skills in river navigation and safety while building strong teamwork and problem-solving skills. During the trip, scholars will participate in a diverse set of instructor-led field lessons and meet industry, non-profit and agency professionals that will introduce them to careers from a variety of freshwater disciplines. The river trip will culminate with an in-depth experience on UW-La Crosse’s Research Vessel Prairie Springs, where students will learn to use state-of-the-art river research and monitoring equipment.
Submitted on: Aug. 11