Explore the river habitat at Upham Woods and discover the amazing world of macro-invertebrates. Students will wear rain boots and use nets, stereoscopes, and a dichotomous key to collect, examine, and study aquatic insects and other water critters. Students will learn about water quality with the use of abiotic indexes and chemical water quality tests. These hands-on activities will allow students to learn about animal adaptations, aquatic ecosystems, and the role of aquatic insects in the food chain.
Accessibility notes: Access from the Nature Center to the water includes a 0.08-mile walk down a steep hill with some visible tree roots. A longer, 0.15-mile, gradual route is also available. Along the water, there is a boardwalk that allows students with mobility concerns such as balance difficulties or mobility aids such as a wheelchair to access the water. There are no benches, but chairs can be moved to the location as requested. Macro-invertebrates can also be collected and brought inside if needed.
The dichotomous keys and biotic indexes for this course come in both Spanish and English.
