Teachers connect classrooms and creeks

HOBART - Sure, it's summer break.

But that didn't stop about 25 teachers, from across the state, from spending part of their week sitting in classes and workshops at Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve in Suamico.

"And this is an effort for us to help get not only teachers teaching outdoors, but get kids outdoors to learn," said Janet Hutchens, a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources coordinator for the Lake Michigan Field Experience Course.

Funded by a grant worth about $70,000 from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the DNR is administering the three, one-week courses about water quality and the Lake Michigan watershed, from Kenosha to Green Bay.

The purpose is to teach teachers how to test water quality - both in and out of class - so they can then share what they learn with their students.

"We're seeing kids being a little more disconnected from the environment, than in the past," said Hutchens.

And a good majority of the class time isn’t spent “in class” but outside, like at Duck Creek in Hobart.

If you look closely, signs of aquatic life can be seen somewhat easily.

However, others aren’t so easy to spot.

One of the teachers participating in the Green Bay course is Amherst elementary school teacher Celeste Paugel.

Trudging through the shallow, rocky creek, she and a fellow teacher are looking for species of native and non-native invertebrates to help determine the oxygenation and water quality levels.

"This (class and field work) just reinforces how important it is to get outside in the environment,” said Paugel, “And connect the kids with what's going on outside of the windows of the classroom."

Paugel says by connecting the students with the environment, they will retain the knowledge longer, creating a deeper meaning and respect for the environment.