2024 | River Discoveries: Dive into Nature in Montgomery County’s Local Waterways

IGC Capstone Project | Interfaces of Global Change

River Discoveries: Dive into Nature in Montgomery County’s Local Waterways

Student Members:

• Emma Hultin, Fish and Wildlife Conservation
• Priscila Dos Reis Cunha, Fish and Wildlife Conservation
• Bridget Re, Fish and Wildlife Conservation 
• Zoie McMillan, Fish and Wildlife Conservation 
• Elaine Metz, Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Faculty Mentors:

• Dr. Holly Kindsvater, Fish and Wildlife Conservation

This project involved hosting a week-long aquatic ecology educational experience for children ages 10-15 to foster environmental education and awareness among young middle school students in Montgomery County, VA. Through this event, students were introduced to the rich biodiversity and ecological significance of their local waterways while engaging in hands-on learning experiences.

Their educational objectives were to 1) increase environmental awareness by teaching students the importance of local river ecosystems and the need for their conservation, 2) enhance students’ knowledge of the species inhabiting the river ecosystem, and 3) foster a sense of stewardship and community involvement.

To accomplish their objectives, they conducted a guided activity in which students made and used bathyscopes to observe and document aquatic life. The students then learned to identify common river species and understand their role in the aquatic environment through the creation of their own field notebook that they are able to continually add to.

To evaluate the success of the event, they designed a pre-  and poststudy survey aimed at assessing how well they achieved their objectives. Through this capstone they hoped to inspire a lifelong appreciation for the local river ecosystem and empower young students to become stewards of their environment.