Core Goal 3: Enhance Community Awareness

If clean water and its economic benefits are to become community goals, much broader engagement in watershed issues must be developed. The Western Hardrock Watershed Team OSM/VISTAs assist their sponsor organizations in enhancing community awareness and involvement through education and outreach.

OSM/VISTA Whitney Gaskill coordinates Silverton Student Scientists Program
 

OSM/VISTA Whitney Gaskill with her award winning Middle School student scientists at the San Juan Regional Science Fair

OSM/VISTA Whitney Gaskill with the Mountain Studies Institute (MSI) coordinated a successful Silverton Student Scientists program in Quarter 2 of FY 2011with Silverton Middle School students. The program was designed to prepare Silverton youth for the San Juan Regional Science Fair through hands-on field science. Each student was encouraged to select their own topic and research question within the realm of earth and environmental studies.  Students met twice a week with Gaskill to formulate research questions, conduct background research, develop their research methods, and set up field sites to conduct real world research. All of Gaskill’s students won prizes at the Science Fair and the school staff has noted that they are talking about scientific concepts at a much higher level now. Gaskill said of the program, “Beyond fostering environmental stewardship, I think it is an incredible example of science education that involved students with healthy outdoor activities, as well as an arena in which to succeed and feel good about themselves.”  Thrilled with Gaskill’s involvement in the project, Superintendent of Silverton Public Schools Kim White said, “Whitney was a perfect fit for this project…It was such an enriching and positive opportunity for the Middle School students who participated.  I was especially pleased with the focus on real, environmentally centered science." 

Using science education to engage 3rd-5th graders in Hotchkiss, CO

OSM/VISTA Calista Brower of the North Fork Valley Science Center presenting to students in Hotchkiss, CO

In quarter 2 of FY 2010 OSM/VISTA Calista Brower focused on educational outreach. Brower developed an after-school Science exploration program taking place once a month as part of her work for the North Fork Valley Science Center (NFVSC) in Hotchkiss, CO. The program, called ‘Gadgets & Goo,’ made science lessons and experiments available to all 3rd – 5th graders in the valley at no cost to the students. The average attendance was 25 student participants and 3 volunteers. Brower also started NFVSC’s first in-school program in Hotchkiss, CO. Brower arranged for  mechanical engineering students and one Mesa State faculty member to give a presentation to an 8th grade class on the different fields of engineering, showing them an interactive ‘fluids model.’ Brower plans to continue both programs next quarter.  The NFVSC also held a Spring Science Camp, serving 3rd – 6th graders.