Comments

From Classroom Teachers

"The Watershed Project is an opportunity that no one should miss. The students are able to leave the confines of the classroom to see, breathe, and learn about their natural world first-hand. I loved being able to finally accompany students to this amazing excursion." 

~ Gemma Arana, 6th grade teacher, Owens Valley School

"It's difficult to have students collect real ecological data in the classroom. The Eastern Sierra Watershed Project allows students the opportunity to make observations outdoors and analyze data that they collected in the field. What's even more impressive is that this project allows students to work with a longterm data set. Many research scientists do not get to work with 15-year datasets as the ESWP students do. This is an incredible chance for students to take part in real science in a fun way. Please continue to support the project!"  

~ Matt Wilson, 7th Grade Science Teacher, Home Street Middle School

"The ESWP helps to show students real life applications of the concepts that they are learning in class and learn more about where we live. The program opens up conversations about possible careers and gives students a chance to interact with experts and learn about ways they can pursue a STEM career outside of the "typical" scientist many students picture in 6th grade." 

~ Beth Usher, 6th Grade Science Teacher, Home Street Middle School

"Funny story about that "typical scientist" - when Home Street 6th graders were on their field trip this year, some scientists from the Water Department came by to collect water samples out of Bishop Creek - I told them all about what the students were doing, then I pointed the scientists out to all the students telling them what the scientists were doing (many of the same tests the students were learning). One student, a girl, said something about them not looking like scientists - because she thought all scientists wore white lab coats! That was a teachable moment to dispel stereotypes! The scientists thought it was wonderful we were teaching kids to do water quality tests, and one of them said she never learned about any of that until college." 

~ Maggie Riley, ESWP Coordinator

"I have been participating in the Fish Slough field trip through Eastern Sierra Watershed Project for 15 years. The experience for my students is invaluable, and it is my favorite field work, even after all of these years. The program is always organized, from scheduling and communicating with teachers, to knowledgeable, enthusiastic guides, to providing worthwhile and engaging materials for the students. The fourth grade students are always mesmerized when studying the artifacts found at Fish Slough, like petroglyphs, grinding stones, and house rings that many have never encountered before. It is an experience they never forget."

~ Loralee Mairs, 4th Grade Teacher, Big Pine Elementary School

"The field trip to Fish Slough is an invaluable resource. Our students get to study and learn about our valley's unique biodiversity. Students are able to learn the subtle differences in soil, botany and how different organisms have evolved and adapted over time. They also get to see how non-native species can have such a serious impact on an ecosystem and why it is important to care for and protect different habitats. The geology component of the trip is fascinating, as students are able to see just how active the earth has been, and how we are so fortunate to be able to investigate and learn from the evidence from "recent" volcanic activity. Finally, the archaeology of the Fish Slough area really gets students to think about just how different life was, 20,000 years ago. " 

~ Jeff Burror, 4th Grade Teacher, Bishop Elementary School

“The Eastern Sierra Watershed Project engages students in hands-on experiences in their watersheds. They gain a more intimate relationship with the places in which they live, zooming into the near microscopic with invertebrate analysis to macroscopic with vegetation analysis and stream flow. They do the science of restoration ecologists and have a sense of more career paths as a result. The experience of ESWP grows students into more active stewards of their local lands.”

~ Ali Amberg, 6th grade teacher, Big Pine Elementary School

"The 2nd grade Fish Slough trip is a magical experience that provides all students with hands-on science investigation skills. As they get up close and personal with the macroinvertebrates, it is wonderful to see students hunched over their classification/ sorting area and hearing their excitement when they identify a midge or a caddisfly." 

~ Allison Peeler, 2nd grade teacher, Owens Valley School

"Since the beginning in 2000 as a cofounder of the Eastern Sierra Watershed Project, I have witnessed a program that has allowed thousands of school children to get into the field, gather data, and work with scientists and the community. While some other school programs have come and gone, the ESWP continues to engage our diverse student population all along the magnificent watershed of the Eastern Sierra. The staff has always been extraordinary, coordinating docents of all ages and backgrounds,  and making the most of the resources provided, to create exciting field programs that exceed the expectations of the Next Generation Science Standards.  Many of our graduates have gone into scientific disciplines in college and professionally. Most importantly, there are many moments of wonder throughout the school year as students make discoveries and connections, developing a sense of place within their watershed in the Eastern Sierra."

~ Steve Holland, 4th Grade Teacher, Bishop Elementary School

“Thank you to you and all the docents that took the time to educate my class. The event was so well organized, and you kept us informed all along the way. The resource materials for the classroom are invaluable and the students really enjoyed them. Thank you so much for this expansive learning experience.” 

~ Valyrie Ice, 3/4/5  Teacher, Edna Beaman Elementary School

On the field trips: “Students enjoy being outside learning. The students enjoy coming back to school and sharing their experiences with the other classes. I hear them compare experiences. The program provides great learning experiences for my students!!!” 

On the classroom kits: “I always use the 6th-grade River cutters GEMS classroom kit provided as it is a good tie in with 6th-grade social studies civilizations based on river systems. The plant ID is an important activity and gets the 7th-grade students excited about going into the field. The 8th-grade Environmental Detectives kit is is always a great unit and can be tied into environmental issues today.”  

~ Nadine Harry, 6-7-8 grade teacher, Lo-Inyo Elementary School

“Activities are well-designed, relevant and facilitated with care and a sense of stewardship. Year after year my students thoroughly enjoy these hands-on experiences, which let them become scientists in their own backyard. The program provides an excellent opportunity for Owens Valley students to learn about their local environment and perform relevant data collection as student scientists.” 

~ Jan Hart, 7-8 grade teacher, Big Pine School

Thank you so much for the opportunity to enjoy and learn at the Fish Slough yesterday. What a perfect weather window! The day for us brought together science, social studies, PE, writing, listening and speaking, math…and character development. It’s so awesome to connect to Taking Root, our core science lab, and other projects. Thank you for the journals to use as a reflection and the hands-on kit as a follow-up – Go Eastern Sierra!

~ Rob Valentine and the EBES Team, Edna Beaman Elementary School

From Local Scientists, Community Members, and Partner Organizations

“This data set was used to track changes in channel elevation wetted width and depth to width ratio over time. These are important geomorphic indicators of stream health and are the only long-term data sets established within the Lower Owens River. Continuation of the study is critical to effective monitoring within the river channel. The lower Owens river project is the largest river restoration project on the West Coast yet does not include systematic channel monitoring regime, making this effort extremely important.”

~Nick Buckmaster (on the use of the 8th grade Stream Morphology data), Environmental Scientist, California Department of Fish and Wildlife