As part of the Columbia Basin Trust’s Know Your Watershed program, 35 Grade 8 students from J. Howard and L. Kroker’s science classes at Sparwood Secondary School pushed up their sleeves and cleaned up 200 pounds of trash, preventing it from flowing into the Elk River.

“This activity was part of their Student Action Project,” noted Allie Dickhout, the local Know Your Watershed educator in Sparwood.  “Students took what they learned in class and on the field trip and worked together to prevent trash from flowing into storm drains and blowing directly into the Elk River.  It was a team effort to improve water quality in our watershed.”

Students learned about and discussed the serious problems related to garbage in waterways. “The most common garbage we picked up was cigarette butts, which students were alarmed to learn is considered toxic waste,” said Dickhout. “The students’ also cleaned up a car battery, numerous tires and a shopping cart!”

Volunteers from the Elk River Alliance (ERA) participated as team leaders to supervise the Student Action Project. “It’s great to see young people in our community taking a leadership roll to pass on water quality downstream. I’d encourage people in Sparwood to keep cigarettes out of the Elk River, putting their butts into the garbage can instead of in places where they can wash into storm drains,” said Ayla Bennett, ERA volunteer.

Know Your Watershed is a regionally based watershed education program of the Columbia Basin Trust delivered throughout the Canadian portion of the Columbia Basin since 2010.  Administered and managed by Wildsight, the program is designed specifically for students and supports teachers in delivering the Science 8 curriculum.  Students take part in two classroom sessions and a full-day field trip to increase their knowledge and awareness of their watershed and water-related issues in their communities.

Lead image: Grade 8 students from Sparwood Secondary pose for a victory shot after picking up 200 pounds of garbage!

Wildsight

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