Memphremagog Watershed Association is supporting NorthWoods’ environmental education programs again in 2014 with a $500 education award to be used to subsidize local schools and students participating in NorthWoods programs that focus on the watershed.
NorthWoods education staff has the opportunity to connect local youth with their backyard watershed in a variety of ways from an introduction to water quality, to invasive species removal. In 2013, MWA offered the first education award. This was used, in part, to support the Canoe Club at Troy School as NorthWoods staff facilitated a program on safe river travel, riparian habitat species, and the value of exploring our local waterways. The Club made two expeditions on the Missisquoi River, testing out their draw stroke on the meandering stretch and seeing the first signs of spring emerge from the vantage point of a canoe. This included the early-budding silver maples, the return of mallard ducks, and tracking a sandpiper on the shore. These students practiced using the USGS river gauge records available online, learned that a cfs, or cubic foot per second, can be visualized as about the size of a basketball, is relative to each river, and is connected to river height and navigability. During the snow melt of mid April the Missisquoi River rose to flood-level at just above 8,000 cfs. On this day, the Canoe Club tested homemade vessels on a small stream instead. Many thanks to fe
arless afterschool leaders from Troy School, Kim McCarthy and Anne Cota. We wondered what could possibly take enough energy and focus to tire the energetic Canoe Club 4-8th graders, and we found the answer on the Missisquoi River: paddling! The middle spot of the canoe was a coveted position for weary paddlers, as they traded the bow and stern positions for a chance to enjoy the ride as Wildlife Observer or Prince.
If you know of a school group that would benefit from NorthWoods programming and this MWA support and wants to explore their watershed, please contact Education Director Maria Young at maria@northwoodscenter.org. Please see the link below to view the MWA Spring 2014 newsletterMWA’s Spring Newsletter and learn about upcoming events with the MWA, like the Upper Clyde River Paddle on July 25.