The Calumet River

Starting in 7th grade, every girl goes on a field trip to the river once a year until they graduate and today was the 10th & 11th graders day to go and I was lucky enough to go with them. I met them at the Flat Foot Lake around 10:00 to begin taking samples of the water. The 11th graders did a comparative sample between the Flat Foot Lake and the Calumet River. The girls were broken into groups to complete the organism and water sample tests. I made myself useful by working with a girl who was part of a two person group. They decided to split up the tests so they could get done faster so I helped Chloe by recording what she found in the lake. The girls wore big boots that went all the way up their legs so they could get in the water to find organisms. The organisms were separated into different categories based on their tolerance for pollution and so based on the organisms found, the girls could determine the cleanliness of the water. After finding lots of organisms at the lake, we drove to the river where the water current and predators made it hard to find organisms. The afternoon was spent on forest restoration and a nature walk. The girls walked around picking up trash, pulling garlic mustard (a plant that does not belong in the forest and is taking up valuable space), and tearing down grape vine from the trees. Participation seemed optional which I found rather interesting. There was a group of girls who pulled the weeds and picked up the trash and a group who sat around doing nothing, but teachers nor students commented on the laziness. After restoration, the girls sat by the lake to think about their writing assignment for humanities class. Each girl chose a different perspective i.e. mother nature, an elementary school teacher, an alien, or an author to write about sights of the lake. From this data at the river, the girls put together a presentation for the science fair in two weeks. I came at an exciting time to catch the beginning of so many things. The teachers and girls are wonderful and it will take no time at all to feel at home at YWLCS.