Now is the perfect time to get involved with protecting our freshwater resources with volunteer events, free training and education classes and family-friendly activities throughout the year!
Stream Leaders is an outdoor education program that fosters experiences in citizen science, civic engagement, and environmental stewardship.
Stream Leader classrooms have a chance to participate in real field research and get out into the river with scientists and mentors. CRWC Staff teaches students about water quality testing, stream assessment practices and aquatic insect identification. Students have an opportunity to showcase their experiences and continue building school-community partnerships at our Annual Student Congress.
Upper Elementary, Middle school, and High school students within the Clinton River Watershed, Lake St. Clair Direct Drainage Area and Anchor Bay sub-watershed are eligible to participate in this program. Stream Leaders is best suited for Middle school, High school and College-age students, although adaptations can be made for Elementary school ages.
Click on the links below to download all the information needed for the Stream Leaders Program.
Stream Leaders Introduction: general description of the water quality monitoring program for students, its goals and objectives, what’s expected from you as the participant, and what the watershed council contributes.
Grade Level Expectations: Correlations to Stream Leaders Water Quality Monitoring Program Middle and High School.
Stream Leaders Monitoring Guide: Monitoring protocols and procedures.
Wader Safety: Anytime you get into the water there are precautions and guidelines to follow. This outlines a few things to be especially aware of in an urban setting.
Chemical Data Form: This is the GREEN chemical data form used to record chemical sampling results.
Physical Data Form: This is the form used to record physical inventory observations.
Biological Data Form: This is the form used to record macroinvertebrate sampling information.
Macroinvertebrate Sampling Tips: This document provides information about the different macroinvertebrates habitats and how to sample them.
Common Macroinvertebrates of the Clinton River: This document provides information and identification pictures of the common macroinvertebrates in the Clinton River Watershed.
Aquatic Insect Labels: Here you will find two pages of insect labels. Be sure and print them on a laser printer so they don’t bleed when you put them in alcohol.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Protocols: Here you can find the contact information for the watershed wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and their requirements for testing your samples.
Schools and classrooms participating in Stream Leaders Program will complete an outdoor, stream monitoring day twice a year - once in the spring and once in the fall.
Spring Monitoring is from the end of April through May, and Fall Monitoring is throughout the entire month of October. During a stream monitoring day, students complete three different assessments of the stream and water quality.
The CRWC provides Stream Leaders training to teachers upon request. This may include an introduction to the program, lessons on facilitating a monitoring event, supplemental information for in-classroom lessons, or a water quality related presentation. Bug ID training is offered throughout the year at various times and locations, and teachers and mentors are encouraged to attend. In the fall, the CRWC also facilitates or hosts one professional development opportunity a year at the Annual Student Congress for the teachers participating in the program.
Stream Leaders strives to build partnerships between schools and community organizations through sponsorship and mentors. Civic groups and businesses are invited to participate by sponsoring a Stream Leaders classroom. Sponsorship includes providing financial assistance for equipment, supplies and CRWC’s coordination of the program. Sponsors are also much needed to provide mentor assistance in the field at monitoring events. CRWC provides training to mentors as needed on how to facilitate the Stream Leaders monitoring stations. Bug ID training is offered by CRWC throughout the year at various times and locations and mentors are encouraged to attend.