Keepers of the Creek

Project Beginnings:

During the fall semester of the 2021-2022 school year one of our science teachers, Mr. Keith Wyatt, took a walk by the riverside. Not just any riverside; Mr. Wyatt was walking along the banks of the Little Ivy River at Beech Glen, one of the most impacted streams in Madison County.

Paul Smith was also at the river that day. They had never met before, but got to talking about the Little Ivy and about the county owned land (including a Community Center and ball fields) that they were standing on, wondering what plans, if any, were in the works for this property. It turned out that Paul was a member of the Greater Ivy Community Association and a former teacher. He was very interested in hearing that Keith was looking for a community based project to get our high school students involved in. From that chance meeting the seeds for a year-long project were planted.