Down To Earth 
Specialists in Education, Leadership & Training

Phone: 905 - 627- 3140  
Fax:     905 - 627- 8100 

 

Source To Mouth
Field Information

Secondary School Aquatic Study: Senior Grades

Procedure:  Teachers (Pre-field)
·  Check with other staff to see if other classes are interested in joining you in a series of Source-To-Mouth programs.
·  Decide on a program date and contact  Beth or Sandy at the offices of  Down To Earth. Phone: 905 - 627- 3140.
·  A telephone planning session or a pre-planning meeting will be arranged.
·  Parental permission forms are Board policy.  Safety, transportation arrangements, pencils, clipboards, lunches, allergies, sun screen, repellant, and proper outdoor clothing for any weather (rain, cold, sun).
·   Ideally, classes should have some familiarity with identification keys, mapping skills and equipment.  Practice identifying organisms with the assistance of the field guides or identification keys.  Have some basic familiarity with the safe use of the Water Quality Testing Kits, and their application.
·  Organize students into teams. Members are responsible for specific task(s) and equipment.
·  Review Source-To-Mouth worksheets. 
·  (Optional) Obtain a topographical map of the area, review the study locations, note the source of the creek, determine the location of agricultural, urban, domestic and industrial areas within the watershed.  Obtain permission for testing and crossing private properties, where required.

Process:
·  The Nature On Wheels van will meet you at an accessible highway location. . 
·  Transportation to pre-determined study sites along the (Spencer Creek).
·  Student teams to work on all components of the Source-To-Mouth study.
·  On-site data collection and recording of findings on student worksheets.
·  Assessment of the (Spencer Creek) water quality.  
·  Reviewing the data obtained.  
·  Development of a watershed plan identifying major areas of environmental stress and recommendations for the protection of these areas.       

Procedure: On-site
·  Orient students to the water system being studied.  Determine a control point where students can meet instructors for assistance, and a place for returning after the data has been gathered.  
·  Each group works independently of one another, and is responsible for their own observations, data collection and recording.
·  At each of the 4 to 6 study sites, the on-site  procedures are repeated.
·  Once all sites have been studied, and a brief overview of the day given, students return the equipment used throughout the day and return to the school.

Procedure: Post-field
Based on their observations, each group will develop a report of their findings.  Reports should include suggestions for a Watershed Plan.  Recommendations should  identify major areas of stress for the watershed, as well as plans for the protection and enhancement of these areas.

Consider human impact factors such as population growth,  housing, industrial waste and transportation,
 

Follow-up Suggestions:
·  Investigate other local watershed(s).
·  Direct student involvement in watershed enhancement and rehabilitation projects.
·  Consider: Adopting a portion of a local stream and having a clean-up of the area, along with on-going maintenance & testing of its 'health' throughout the year. 
·  Linking your monitoring of the stream or creek with the Wetnet Eco-Scope Monitoring Project.
·  Long-term school monitoring of Source-To-Mouth programs, and linking this information with other schools.

Billing:  Schools will be sent an invoice for the day based on the number of classes and students.  All working equipment is pre-checked by the teacher-in charge.  During the day, equipment is the responsibility of the students.  Damaged items will be added to the final invoice as an additional charge.