Stream Leaders
Stream Leaders is a place-based, outdoor education program that provides middle and high school students with hands-on experience in water quality monitoring, data interpretation, and citizen action. The curriculum aims to raise young people’s awareness of the importance of water quality in their local region and cultivate a connection to the Great Lakes Basin.
2024 STREAM LEADERS STATS
1,599
Total Students
34
Teachers & Mentors
14
Total Schools
15
Sites
WHAT DO STREAM LEADER SCHOOLS DO?
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.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN STREAM LEADERS?
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.
JOIN STREAM LEADERS
SCHOOLS:
Would you like your school or classroom to become involved in the Stream Leaders program? Email CRWC’s Education & Stewardship Manager at kaleigh@crwc.org or click here to get started. To submit data that you’ve collected during 2024, head over to Microsoft Forms here.
SPONSORS:
Organizations and businesses are invited to participate by sponsoring a Stream Leaders classroom. Sponsorship can include providing financial assistance for supplies, equipment, transportation, and more. Become a Stream Leaders Sponsor Here.
MENTORS:
Are you a STEM professional interested in becoming a mentor for local students? Apply to become a Stream Leaders mentor here!
Current Participants
INTRODUCTON
-
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. Download
-
Correlations to Stream Leaders Water Quality Monitoring Program Middle and High School. Download
-
Monitoring protocols and procedures. Download
-
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. Download
-
DATA FORMS & SAMPLING
-
This is the GREEN chemical data form used to record chemical sampling results. Download
-
This is the form used to record physical inventory observations. Download
-
This is the form used to record macroinvertebrate sampling information. Download
-
This document provides information about the different macroinvertebrates habitats and how to sample them. Download
-
This document provides information and identification pictures of the common macroinvertebrates in the Clinton River Watershed. Download
-
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. Download
-
Here you can find the contact information for the watershed wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and their requirements for testing your samples. Download
CURRICULUM SUPPORT
CRWC provides Stream Leaders training to teachers in spring and in fall, or upon request. This includes an introduction to the program and lessons on facilitating a monitoring event. Supplemental information for in-classroom lessons or a water quality-related presentation can be incorporated. Bug ID training is offered throughout the year at various times and locations, and teachers and mentors are encouraged to attend.
MENTORS & PARTNERSHIPS
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.
VIDEO RESOURCES
PHYSICAL DEMONSTRATION VIDEO
CHEMICAL DEMONSTRATION VIDEO
BIOLOGICAL DEMONSTRATION VIDEO
STREAM LEADERS DATA
The map below contains data collected in previous years from CRWC’s Stream Leaders Schools. This data offering was created with the assistance of the Michigan Sea Grant Environmental Internship.
