Critical Zone Geoscience Education

Critical Zone Geoscience Education (OCE #1034961) works with middle-school aged students through after school programs and summer programs, including 4-H. Concentrating primarily on children of migrant agricultural workers, this program introduces youth to the science of soils, hydrology, GIS, and environmental sensors. This project was developed in partnership with West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

The Leaf Pack Experiment and the Leaf Pack Network^®

The Leaf Pack Experiment, developed by Stroud Water Research Center and marketed by LaMotte and the National Wildlife Federation, is a biological water-quality assessment tool used primarily by middle and high-school students and teachers. Participants upload their data into the Leaf Pack Network^® to be shared with other participants.

Leaf Pack materials have been translated into Spanish and a draft version in Chinese is also available. We hold periodic workshops throughout the US for teachers interested in this hands-on, boots-in-the-water program.

The Science of Water through the World of Art

The Science of Water through the World of Art program primarily reaches non-science oriented teachers and students who find that approaching watershed science through art activities provides a cognitive anchor to scientific principles.

Model My Watershed

The Model My Watershed (NSF DRL #0929639) application is an online hydrologic model that allows students, teachers and citizens to model the hydrology in their own neighborhood. It also allows users to make changes to land cover and to implement best-management practices to improve local hydrology.

This interactive, web-based application allows users to examine the complexity of land-use decision-making and to understand the tradeoffs that are often necessary when environmental protection conflicts with human needs. Originally developed for the Schuylkill River Basin, the application is now also available for the Christina River Basin. This project was developed in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania, Millersville University of Pennsylvania and Azavea, Inc.