Student reading nitrate test results at Pioneer Park, courtesy of Amy Schutte
October means we’ve got salmon on our minds. Students from all over Thurston County have taken to their local waterways to conduct water quality tests and consider how our environment is impacting salmon.
South Sound G.R.E.E.N. is still out in the field with Watershed Explorers field trips, too. At these trips and at Water Quality Monitoring trips we’re asking students to look into their communities and home to consider what their watershed means to them, as well as how we impact our watersheds.
We visited schools to help students practice tests in the classroom before field trips. We’ve also been supporting teachers by the creeks, streams, lakes and rivers of our watersheds. Students are eager to test water that salmon and other wildlife are really coming into contact with and that many things, including people, rely on. They have been ready! Kids come to the site prepared by their experiences in the classroom and take on their tasks with confidence and enthusiasm.
SSG had a blast hosting a kids activity at the Thurston Conservation District’s annual Harvest Festival. Kids got to use native plant coloring sheets and glue eco-confetti on them (hole-punched leaves!).
October’s Teens in Thurston event was put together by the Thurston Conservation District in partnership with City of Olympia Parks. Teen volunteers helped run an orca-themed activity booth at Squaxin Park. They also planted native plants and toured the beach. If you or someone you know is a high school age student with an interest in environmental volunteer work please contact Sam Nadell at snadell@thurstoncd.com.
