A few weeks ago, the Watershed Council partnered with Elk Rapids High School and the Elk-Skegemog Lakes Association (ESLA) to host the first-ever Elk Rapids STEM Day, an immersive outdoor learning experience connecting students directly to their local waters.
More than 120 students from the high school’s Environmental Science and AP Biology classes explored the waterways surrounding their community, including Lake Michigan and the Elk River, to investigate how land use, chemistry, and biology all play roles in water quality.
Before the event, AP Biology students received training and tools from Watershed Council staff, then stepped into leadership roles during the field trip, guiding about 100 Environmental Science 9th-grade students through three science rotations: water chemistry, stormwater investigation, and macroinvertebrate collection.
At the water chemistry station, students learned how to test water samples for pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, phosphates, and temperature, using field test kits. The stormwater station sent students searching for impervious surfaces around downtown, tracing storm drains, and investigating runoff patterns to understand how rainfall moves pollutants into waterways. At the macroinvertebrate station, students used nets and trays to discover an entire world of underwater organisms, revealing sensitive macroinvertebrates like mayflies, caddisflies, and damselflies, as well as invasive species like zebra mussels and Eurasian Watermilfoil.
Throughout the morning, students worked together to collect data, make observations, and draw connections between human activity and the health of their local watershed. This collaborative program provided students with real-world experience in environmental monitoring while empowering them to become local water stewards.
Partnerships like this are vital to fostering the next generation of watershed protectors. Together, the Watershed Council and ESLA helped transform Elk Rapids’ shoreline and riverfront into an outdoor classroom, where students learned not just how to test the water, but why it matters. By understanding the science behind clean water and the factors that threaten it, these students are helping to ensure that the rivers and lakes they call home remain healthy for years to come.
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