US Environmental Science Students Begin the Year in the Academic Courtyard

A Busy Summer in the Preserve

On Tuesday June 7^th the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association led a group of community members on the Green Ribbon Trail, beginning at the GA Preserve and heading south, across Lafayette Ave, over newly finished stepping stones across the creek, to Skippack Pike.  Later in the summer, Sarah Kesten, Germantown Academy's Preserve manager, participated in a workshop on Teaching Environmental Sustainability the process of which she will employ at GA. Sarah reports, 

“The project goal is to promote geospatial literacy and systems thinking. Instructional materials include a new GIS-based web application to analyze real data on environmental impacts related to land use, water quantity/quality and local socioeconomic impacts. The curriculum takes a systems approach to problem solving through hands-on activities based on local data and issues.  The new Model My Watershed app (MMW v2) will be updated to bring new environmental datasets and geospatial capabilities into the classroom. The Teaching Environmental Sustainability curriculum provides a cloud-based learning and analysis portal accessible from a web browser on any computer or mobile device, thus overcoming the cost and technical obstacles to integrating GIS technology in middle and high school education. Students will also use a low-cost Watershed Tracker device to record data about their local watershed. This new low-cost environmental sensor allows students to collect and upload their own data and compare them to data visualized on the new MMW v2 within the five activities (see High School Environmental Science).  We are working with partners across the U.S. Research, curriculum development and teacher professional development will take place in CA, IA, KS, PA and VA, ensuring that project outcomes reach urban and rural populations.”

GA also received 5 Texas Instrument SensorTag kits which work with Texas Instrument software on an iPhone and Android app.  The sensor remotely sends data to the phone app which graphs the data in real time.  The sensor detects light, humidity, temperature, and movement, and comes in a red plastic case that can be attached to various structures (although is not water proof) to look at microclimates in different areas to see how land use affects climate as well.  For example, we went to the Conestoga Creek on Millersville University’s campus to look at ambient data in wooded versus meadow areas, as well as closer to and farther from the creek.  Personally, I was a little disappointed because when I signed up for the workshop at the National Science Teacher Foundation conference last fall, we were told that we could collect actual creek data.  However, it turns out that Texas Instruments gave a better price for the sensors, but that price did not include water proofing for use actually IN THE CREEK.  I attached photos of all of these items that the workshop covered.

Community Gardens: Our Littlest Gardeners

GA Unveils New Adventure Course

Guest Blogger, Chris Wiseman.  This summer the launch of the new GA Adventure Course was welcomed with enthusiasm, exhilaration and some nervous butterflies by the campers and staff in our Summer Programs. This thrilling new addition to the campus was designed for ages 7 to adult and offers a different challenge for all.

The GA Adventure Course employs the latest technology through a continuous belay system. This allows each person to easily enter onto the course and keeps them securely attached throughout without having to manage transitions at each new element. There are ten different components in the trees reaching 50 feet, including a zip line across the Wissahickon.

The course gives the GA community another tool to build teamwork, responsibility, focus and concentration, and athleticism. It also provides the opportunity to conquer fears and challenge yourself in new ways. We employ the “Challenge by Choice” philosophy which reinforces the message that an individual is to exert and take personal responsibility in choosing his/her behavior and actions.

To learn more or request to use the facility, please contact Chris Wiseman. Or come out to Preserve Day on October 8th from 11-1 and try it out with our trained facilitators.