Can computer models enhance students’ science learning? Bob and I have been researching this question in partnership with teachers from the Ritenour School District for the last 3 years. Extending that work, LREC hosted two camps this summer. In June, 7th and 8th grade students from City Garden Montessori joined us, and then we worked with an eclectic group of upper elementary aged kids in July. In both camps, the kids investigated water quality through chemical tests and by collecting macroinvertebrates from different locations along Deer Creek. Once campers analyzed and shared their findings, they created original computer simulations to deepen their understanding of the creek ecosystems. Moving ahead, we will build more program offerings that make strategic use of technology to extend (and not replace) students’ field work.

Many thanks to several LREC volunteers and members of the Missouri Stream Team who helped us. Please enjoy these reflections from volunteer Ellen Hartz and her granddaughter Noa who participated in the camp.

Ellen’s reflections: It was a great pleasure to help teach the exciting curriculum that Stacy developed! As a volunteer it was a unique opportunity to be present throughout the entire week. As you can imagine, it was quite satisfying to develop a relationship with the students and to observe them as they developed their skills in the water and on the computer. They moved from confusion to confidence. The development of this confidence was enabled by LREC’s teaching/learning model. The students were taught skills and then encouraged to follow their own interests. Minimal talking, tons of doing! It works every time. And it sure worked during this week-long day camp. I am grateful to have been involved.

And from her granddaughter Noa: When I first came to the camp, I thought, “Wait, are we still in St. Louis?”. The whole area looked like we had gone to the middle of the country. I loved how much time we spent outside and learning about how and what things live in the creek/stream. We also learned how to make a game/code based on the information we found outside. I made a code that demonstrated how the invertebrates and animals in general lived together and how each one affected one another. I think that kids of all different interests would enjoy this camp. I, being a 12 year-old girl raised by an entomologist (​a person who studies or is an expert in the branch of zoology concerned with insects)​ being my father and my grandmother being botanist, already loved the outdoors. This camp, though, showed me all the details in the simplest things like a creek! As well as some of the other kids I did this camp with I know enjoyed it very much even if they hadn’t really liked the outdoors.