Who Are We?
We provide a week-long camp for high schoolers ages 14-15 to explore wetland restoration through hands-on activities and field experiences. Join us to learn, restore, and connect with nature!
Our Mission
"Eco Explorers provides hands-on environmental education to foster a connection with nature, which is essential for shaping future leaders and addressing environmental challenges. "
Wetland restoration is the process of returning a degraded wetland back to its original condition.
Main goals include:
Restoring native plant cover
Improving water quality
Increasing flood storage
Camp Details
Students will begin with a discussion about river and wetland ecosystems, learning about plants, animals, water quality, etc.
Next, they will participate in a hands-on scavenger hunt aboard the Grand Lady Riverboat($20 per student), identifying wildlife, water quality, and human impact on the environment.
Finally, students will reflect on their discoveries and discuss what they’ve learned about wetlands.
At the end of the day, students will:
Recognize and identify critical ecological features within river and wetland environments.
Understand the impact of human activity on wetland health.
Appreciate the interconnected roles of plants, animals, and water quality in sustaining wetland ecosystems.
Riverboat Info: www.grandlady.info/
Students will begin with a discussion activity where they learn about both the stages of the water cycle, as well as the various microscopic organisms that live within wetland ecosystems.
This will be followed by a hands-on activity, where students take their own samples from a wetland, and then use microscopes to identify various organisms.
Finally, a reflection activity will take place where students will discuss with each other what they have learned.
At the end of the day students will:
Know the stages of the water cycle, as well as how they relate to wetlands.
Be able to operate a microscope in a real-world environment.
Understand the basics of microorganism anatomy.
Each student will partake in a hands-on, outside activity in which they explore the effects of erosion on a landscape.
Students will gather outside materials and put them on a tray in the form of their own landscape. Then, water will be poured down their landscape to show what happens in real life
This activity will be followed with a trip to see eroded trails in the GVSU ravines.
A group reflection activity will follow this experience
At the end of this day, students will:
be able to identify factors that contribute to erosion
be able to identify eroded areas in the natural environment
understand the impact that erosion has on the environment
Students will identify native wetland trees, shrubs, and forbes.
This activity will take place outside. Each student will receive a plant list, which has pictures of each species. Students in groups will go on a scavenger hunt to find the plants on their list.
Following the scavenger hunt, there will be a group activity where plants are checked and fun facts about them are shared.
At the end of the day students will be able to identify wetland plants, and understand their role in the ecosystem.
Students will help identify and remove invasive plants to improve the local ecosystems.
This activity will be followed with setting up erosion control features such as:
Silt fences
Mulching around areas that need help
At the end of the day, students will:
Understand the significance of wetland restoration for ecological health
Gain practical experience in restoration techniques and teamwork
An Empowered Educational Experience
For our camp, we envision active student participation in a multitude of activities. We also hope to promote feedback on what students think of our activities.
A Lifetime of Learning
Our goal is to give students an early taste of what GVSU is all about, as well as keep them learning throughout the summer time at a young age.
A Culture of Educational Equity
Our camp would be designed to cater to the needs of each individual student, regardless of their background or knowledge level.
Cost and Transportation
The Wetland Restoration camp is $20 per student. This covers the cost of the Grand Lady Riverboat experience on the first day of camp.
*If this is an issue, students could experience the other days of camp for free. There are opportunities for financial assistance as well.
Students should be dropped off at Kindschi Hall of Science, located on GVSU's Allendale Campus, at the beginning of each day.
*Transportation to and from the Grand Lady Riverboat experience will be provided.
Safety/ Accessibility
The safety of each student will be the number one priority during their time at the Wetland Restoration camp. There will be multiple college student leaders accompanied by a professor with expertise in each topic covered to ensure that each student has a great experience!
Eco Explores welcomes participants of all abilities, with accommodations to ensure accessible and inclusive experiences. Activities, including nature walks and the boat tour, are adapted to meet diverse mobility needs.