Dragonfly Mercury Project
On the third official day of STEAM in the Park NERI, we started the day by participating in the Dragonfly Mercury Testing project through the National Park service to monitor mercury levels by collecting dragonfly nymphs. Like the day before, we used nets and life jackets to dredge the muddy areas of the New River to find the largest dragonfly nymphs. |
After collecting the 20 largest nymphs that we were able to find, they were classified and labeled to be sent to the lab to be tested for their mercury levels. I was aptly named the death transporter since I would move the nymphs to the collection area after being found in the New River. It felt a little weird to be selecting some to live and others to die. We used plastic spoons to ensure that at no time did we touch the nymphs that would be tested.
Journaling by the River
After lunch, Michelle led us in a journaling by the river activity where we had to look at something while sitting back to back with our partner and describe what we were seeing while they had to draw it. It was really challenging to describe in the right words what your eyes were seeing. It was surprising how much the river had changed from the day prior. With the rain, more water had been released with the dams and the rapids were more intense. I spent more time just looking at the beauty around me then actually doing the activity. We then wrote an I am poem. |
Free Time Adventures
For several hours in the afternoon, we had time to learn how to paddle board on the New River and explore the beautiful area around us. A local company donated both their paddle boards and time so that we could experience the New River on blow up paddle boards. I really enjoyed being on the water. After trying out the paddle boards, Carrie and I hitched a ride with Cindy, another teacher from Wisconsin. We visited the local coffee shop as well as the visitor's center. | |
Art in the Park
| I have to say that I really enjoyed the day of learning, exploring, and making. After dinner, we did an activity with clay and molds to create our own art piece. I love making things with my hands so I absolutely loved this activity created by an art teacher who donated both the molds and individual clay pieces for each camper at all of the STEAM in the Park events this summer. Unfortunately upon arriving at home, I put my design out in the backyard to dry. Overnight we had a heavy rainstorm (note: it hasn't rained for weeks but it did the night I left my medallion outside) and my design was destroyed. |
Moth Program
Later in the evening, we learned about the moths that are being identified in New River Gorge. I was pretty tired so I didn't stay up late enough to see all of the awesome moths that came out.