Opinion: How young scientists learned in an unlikely place

When Christ Church Episcopal School constructed a new performing arts center two years ago, we enlarged a detention pond on campus as part of best management practices. Detention ponds funnel and collect storm water that runs off impervious surfaces (rooftops, parking lots, roads) and give it a place to soak into the ground, which in turn helps reduce pollution and flooding. Storm water is a top contributor to water pollution and also contributes to the flooding of roads and rivers. While detention ponds are valuable in helping to alleviate this problem, they oftentimes are forgotten or ignored, overgrown or unsightly.

At CCES, we are lucky. First, we discovered that our  1+-acre detention pond contains at least three natural springs. Second, we realized that this constant water source supports a variety of plant and animal life (birds and waterfowl, amphibians, snakes, dragonflies and a watchful red tail hawk).

In other words, we have an entire wetland ecosystem inside our detention pond on our campus. Thanks to funding provided by The Daniel Mickel Foundation, Benchmark Trails, LLC. constructed a boardwalk and learning platform in our wetland, thereby giving our students access to an immersive experience in this unique habitat.

Wetlands serve valuable functions to both humans and wildlife. Their soils and vegetation slow down rushing water, help recharge groundwater supplies, store carbon, and filter out pollution. They also serve as critical habitats for plants and animals.  Unfortunately, it is estimated that at least half of the world’s wetlands have disappeared since 1900 due to land conversion and development. Even small wetland ecosystems, like ours, make a difference for all of us.

In late spring my students caught crawfish, tadpoles, dragonfly larva, back swimmers, and aquatic spiders. They observed and recorded details about these animals, identified them and put together a live food web, something they previously had only seen in diagrams and pictures. In this living classroom, students also considered watershed stewardship, and observed the effects of storm water and pollution first-hand.

In the near future, programs here will provide authentic learning, research, and engagement. Citizen science programs such as Frogwatch, Adopt- A-Stream, bird counts, and native bees and butterfly support programs will allow students to collect and record data. Experiences like these afford students the opportunity to adopt the mindset of scientists.

They also encourage connections to the natural world, creative problem-solving skills and a heart for stewardship, all of which are essential to our future. Other areas of study such as art, photography, and creative writing are all interconnected, and can be enhanced by the Wetlands Laboratory.

Greenville’s rapid growth and development make storm water pollution a major concern.  In response, initiatives are popping up all over the Upstate. REWA’s campaign, “Be Freshwater Friendly” teaches the public how small changes in our everyday actions can have a tremendous impact on our rivers, lakes, and streams. Reedy River Water Quality Group’s “Do It On Your Lawn” reminds us that something as simple as washing your car on your lawn can stop pollution from flowing into the Reedy.

South Carolina has an “Adopt A Stream”  water-monitoring program available to all citizens, and the City of Greenville’s “Only Rain in the Drain” reminds us that seemingly innocuous things should never be put down storm drains, as they will ultimately find a home in our lakes, streams and wetlands.

CCES, in conjunction with The Daniel-Mickel Foundation and the City of Greenville, hopes to inspire others to consider similar examples as stewards of our earth. We are happy to join programs like these that educate students and adults alike about the importance of clean water stewardship.

The breadth of academic opportunities at the new CCES wetlands lab is truly exciting. I hope, moreover, that this deliberate engagement will foster in our students a greater sense of connection and responsibility to the natural world and inspire them to care for the environment.

To view photos from The Wetlands Laboratory Blessing, click here.

If you would like more information on the CCES Wetlands Laboratory, contact varatg@cces.org.