Water First visited Kikendaasogamig /Cape Croker Elementary School and the Chippewas of Nawash community for two days of Hands on Water Science Days in May, courtesy of NSERC Science Odyssey Days 2018.
Students spent a fun, interactive first day with four in-class water science workshops learning about the effects of pollution in their watershed and examined freshwater insects under the microscope. Primary students were able to participate in a colourful, interactive storytelling workshop about water pollution and fish. We also flew a drone to survey the school area and neighbourhood to identify sources of pollution.
On Day 2, students, teachers, workshop instructors and an indigenous local elder travelled by bus to Cape Croker Park in Sydney Bay for an exciting outdoor water science exploration, applying what they learned the previous day. After a short hike to a wetland area with water testing equipment, bug nets and identification cards, students took water samples to check water quality and searched for a variety of fresh water bugs and wildlife. The local elder shared traditional indigenous knowledge of the area, water and wildlife.
It was an exciting two days of interactive water sciences learning. The students, teachers, and administration of Kikendaasogamig School warmly and enthusiastically welcomed Water First staff, which made the event a memorable one.
