Students in North Royalton High School’s new AP Environmental Science course took their learning into the field during a recent trip to Camp Hi Canoe and Kayak in Hiram. Approximately 70 students participated in the field experience, where they collected and analyzed data to determine the water quality of the Cuyahoga River.
Led by NRHS Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Savannah Wene, students used professional water-quality testing tools to examine several factors that can indicate the health of a freshwater ecosystem.
Students used a multifunctional probe to measure pH, temperature and conductivity, as well as a dissolved oxygen meter and test kits to measure nitrates, ammonia and phosphates. They also collected and observed macroinvertebrates living in the water. Additional testing included the use of a turbidity meter and Secchi disk to measure water clarity and river depth.
The equipment used during the field experience was purchased through the district’s curriculum department, providing students with an opportunity to work with the same types of tools used to collect environmental data outside the classroom.
After gathering and reviewing their results, students determined that the section of the Cuyahoga River they studied had very good water quality.
The trip provided students in the new AP course with a hands-on opportunity to apply concepts they have been studying in class while learning how scientists collect evidence and use data to assess the health of an ecosystem.