GRADE 7-12
Are your students driven by experiential learning? Spark their inquiry by monitoring a local pond, creek or river near your school with Riverwatch.
Riverwatch is a unique way to engage your students in hands-on science. This outdoor program gives students the opportunity to learn about environmental science and water quality issues, while collecting water samples and completing water chemistry tests at your study site. All Riverwatch data is contributed to a public database.
FortWhyte Alive provides Riverwatch programming within Winnipeg for Grades 7-12 students. Rural teachers, please contact Kent Lewarne, klewarne@prspirit.org, of South Central Eco Institute for information about Riverwatch sessions in your watershed.
Upcoming Teacher Training
Riverwatch Teacher Workshop - Spring Training
Teachers booking a Riverwatch program are required to take a training workshop. This workshop will cover the basics of water monitoring, how to use the Riverwatch water monitoring equipment, and tips and tricks on working with students outdoors. All Manitoba teachers welcome. Dress for the outdoors!
Date: Friday, April 12th, 2019
Time: 1:00pm-3:30pm
Location: FortWhyte Alive, 1961 McCreary Rd., Winnipeg Manitoba
Registration and Fees
FREE! Register with our online REGISTRATION FORM
Registration Deadline: April 5th, 2019
Need more info?
Contact Katrina Froese, Education Program Coordinator
Email: kfroese@fortwhyte.org or call 204-989-8355 ext. 203.
Book a Riverwatch Water Monitoring Program
BOOK YOUR SPRING 2019 PROGRAM NOW!
Contact Katrina Froese, Education Program Coordinator with 3 date options to begin your booking process. Email: kfroese@fortwhyte.org or call 204-989-8355 ext. 203.
Teachers must have attended a professional development workshop before booking with a student group. The Riverwatch Coordinator will assist you in choosing a monitoring site, and meet your group onsite to complete a monitoring session using the Riverwatch Kit full of scientific equipment. Students will measure water transparency, complete a variety of water chemistry tests, and investigate aquatic invertebrates and other biodiversity.
Dates: September 10 – November 2, 2018 & April 15 – June 21, 2019
Program Fee: FREE - funding provided by RBC Foundation
Equipment rental only**: FREE - funding provided by RBC Foundation
Minimum: 4 students
Maximum: 25 students
Length: 2 hours
**Terms and conditions apply, available only to teachers who have participated in previous Riverwatch sessions.
FortWhyte Alive provides Riverwatch programming within Winnipeg. Rural teachers, please contact Kent Lewarne, klewarne@prspirit.org, of South Central Eco Institute for information about Riverwatch sessions in your area.
Riverwatch Resources and Reports
Urban Riverwatch Manual and Sampling Protocols
NEW: Riverwatch Winnipeg Student Data Report to October 2018
How It Works
1. Attend a professional development workshop. Teacher workshops will be provided twice annually at FortWhyte Alive. Schools must have a representative teacher attend a workshop before making a booking with a student group.
2. Book your Riverwatch experience. Our Riverwatch Coordinator will assist you in choosing a monitoring site, and meet your group onsite to complete a monitoring session using the Riverwatch Kit full of scientific equipment. Students will measure water transparency, complete a variety of water chemistry tests, and investigate aquatic invertebrates and other biodiversity.
3. Get involved with other water related programming options. There are a number of ways to get involved depending on your level of experience, time commitment, student learning goals, and grade and course focus.
- Outdoor Educator: These teacher professional development workshops, provided free with funding from Manitoba Education, will help you become more comfortable with teaching outdoors, and can help you to take an outdoor classroom project to the next level.
- FortWhyte Alive School Programs: Expand the learning with a guided school program.
- FortWhyte Alive Hands-On Science Days: FortWhyte brings in scientists and experts to lead a full day of educational, hands-on workshops for high school students throughout the year. Arctic Science Day in March, Dig It Soil Science Day in May, and Freshwater Ecology Day in September are great low-cost ways to connect your students with current knowledge and field research methods. Contact kfroese@fortwhyte.org to be added to our mailing list.
- Slow the Flow Leak Detector Challenge: This simple in-school water audit for all grades occurs in October and March. Students can check school facilities for drips and leaks, submit their findings to the school principal or maintenance, and receive water conservation themed prizes from FortWhyte Alive.
2018-2019 Project Funder! Thank you!
Weblinks
South Central Eco Institute: Kent Lewarne of Prairie Spirit School Division developed the Riverwatch program in Southern Manitoba’s rural schools in collaboration with the Manitoba Conservation Districts. The SCEI Handbook is the source of the Winnipeg protocol. All Winnipeg data collected will be uploaded to the SCEI database to contribute to growing knowledge about water quality across Manitoba.
Lake Winnipeg Foundation: Participating students have the opportunity to collect water samples for phosphorus testing in a professional lab. Students can contribute to a better scientific understanding on water quality in tributaries to the Red River & Lake Winnipeg.
Oak Hammock Marsh’s River Watch Program
Lake Winnipeg Basin Information Network
Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium: Lake Ecology Field Program Onboard MV Namao
Manitoba Eco-Network's Water Caucus
Canadian Geographic: OPEN Water
Manitoba Sustainable Development: Fisheries Branch: Stop Aquatic Invasive Species