Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Jefferson Elementary STEM ambassadors were hard at work at Cherry Creek this past week, putting science and leadership into action.
Students collected and analyzed multiple indicators of stream health. Their work included measuring stream flow rate, conducting water chemistry testing and completing biological sampling to better understand the health of Cherry Creek and the surrounding watershed, according to a news release from Warsaw Community Schools.
The experience is part of Jefferson Elementary’s ongoing commitment to hands-on STEM learning and environmental education. Rather than learning about ecosystems and water quality in the classroom, students have opportunities to become citizen scientists, collecting data from local waterways and considering how human activity can impact the environment, stated the release.
“Experiences like these allow our students to see that science isn’t just something they learn from a textbook. It’s happening right in their own community,” said Chuck Harvuot, Indiana Master Naturalist. “I’m incredibly proud of our STEM ambassadors for the leadership they demonstrated at Cherry Creek as they collected real data, analyzed the health of the stream and considered the impact we all have on our local environment.”
Jefferson’s STEM ambassadors serve as student leaders throughout the school, taking on responsibilities ranging from supporting younger students during creek experiences to assisting with other STEM initiatives. Their work at Cherry Creek provided another opportunity to demonstrate leadership, character and collaboration while applying their learning in an authentic setting.
“Our goal is to develop students who are not only strong scientists and problem-solvers, but also thoughtful stewards of the community and natural resources around them,” said Harvuot.
