By Jill Zerkowski, Naturalist Intern

On September 29, more than 300 students, teachers and volunteers arrived on the shores of the Buffalo River and its tributaries. Equipped with tools such as nets, tubes, clipboards and data sheets, students from six schools from across western New York were ready to explore the complex relationships that are found in the Buffalo River. The fourth annual Day in the Life of the Buffalo River found students ankle deep in water, giving them a unique hands-on experience.

In addition to the students, teachers and volunteers, several partner organizations were on-site to help with the event. Representatives from the Erie County Park Rangers, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Great Lakes Program, and US Fish & Wildlife Service’s Lower Great Lakes Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office worked with students at ten different sites to collect data about water quality, biodiversity, create maps, as well as to share the history of the Buffalo River.

All of the data collected by the students will be posted on the web and shared between the participating classes.

Reinstein Woods gave students and educators a day they most likely won’t forget. Learning to do real science, like measuring turbidity (the cloudiness in the water), is one benefit of the program.  “The turbidity tube was awesome! We poured the water in (the tube), and the secchi disk actually disappeared! It was so cool when we let the water out and could see the disk again,” said one student.

Brittany Rowan, Friends of Reinstein Woods environmental educator, said, “This event is a great opportunity for students to investigate this local water resource and take real-world data. It’s exciting for them to become scientists for a day.”

Special thanks to the local offices of Ingram Micro and Northrop Grumman for providing funding to support this STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program. The Julia B. Reinstein Trust also provides financial support that makes this program possible.

In October, eight Western New York schools participated in the second annual “A Day in the Life of the Buffalo River” event.

With the help of DEC environmental educators, partners and volunteers, more than 150 students in grades 4-12 collected scientific data along the Buffalo River and its major tributaries, creating a “snapshot” of the watershed at one point in time.  Students calculated current speed, measured water and air temperature, observed aquatic life, and investigated water chemistry and weather conditions.

“Providing hands-on experiences for students is something our organization strives to do,” said Friends President Michael Gettings. “This was a great opportunity for area students to connect with this important water resource while practicing skills used by real scientists.”

Many sites had a “river expert” from a partnering organization who shared their knowledge with the students. Partners included the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Buffalo Audubon Society, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, DEC’s Division of Environmental Remediation, DEC’s Great Lakes program, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

When asked about their favorite part of the day, one student said, “Being able to actually go in the river and scoop for fish and living things.”

More than half the students came from schools with underserved populations, and schools used this opportunity to enhance what students were already learning in the classroom.  Additionally, high school students from Buffalo Public Schools’ International Preparatory School served as mentors to younger students participating at their site at Red Jacket Riverfront Park.

Friends of Reinstein Woods’ educator Brittany Rowan coordinates the program, working to educate teachers about the program ahead of time.

“This program was great! The staff was well trained and knowledgeable,” said Carol Clark, a teacher from St. Mary’s School for the Deaf. This was the first time that St. Mary’s participated in the program.

Data from all sites will be shared on a website built by SUNY Buffalo State College students so classes can compare their data with other participants and previous year’s results.