Teacher Resources
The White River watershed provides diverse opportunities for students to learn important academic skills and to benefit their communities through service learning. Here are a few resources to get you started.
Service Learning
The WRP coordinates seasonal, hands-on, volunteer events focused on watershed stewardship. Check out our Annual Volunteer Events for more information about opportunities during the school year.
Monitoring the White River Program
Since 2010 the WRP’s Monitoring the White River Program (MWR) has been engaging White River watershed teachers and students in classroom and field work activities that raise awareness about watershed issues and create opportunities for hands-on, place-based ecology education.
The WRP provides the following FREE resources for participating teachers:
1. Content specialist support for tailored classroom and field work activities associated with the 4 MWR (and one USDA Forest Service snorkeling) units below:
Fall/spring MWR unit options
- Crayfish Unit – In the classroom component, students learn about crayfish as an important member of the river food web and as an example of the impact of an invasive species (the rusty crayfish). In the field work component, students catch and identify crayfish; quality-assured data is shared with the State of Vermont.
- Waterbugs Unit – In the classroom component, students learn how waterbugs are used as indicators of river health and water quality. In the field work component, students collect and identify waterbugs, then draw conclusions about water quality.
- Watershed Restoration: Culverts Unit – In the classroom component, students learn about the relationship between culverts and streams. In the field work component, students gather data about the culvert and the stream, and draw conclusions about impacts to fish passage and flood resilience.
- Freshwater Snorkeling Curriculum – Courtesy of the USDA Forest Service and collaborating partners, the classroom component offers students a chance to learn about watersheds, National Forests, river habitats, aquatic diversity, and fish behaviors. In the field work component, students experience the joys of river snorkeling and underwater explorations for up-close observation of fish in a restored section of the West Branch of the White River, as well as the macroinvertebrates that they feed on.
Winter MWR unit options
- Riparian Track & Sign Unit – In the classroom component, students learn about the different types of wildlife tracks and signs. In the field work component, students gather data about wildlife activity along the river, then draw conclusions about the health of the riparian area.
2. Access to a Lending Library of monitoring equipment and publications
3. Networking opportunities with teachers, state and federal biologists, and other resource people
4. Seasonal newsletters highlighting MWR programs, events, and resources
- Follow this link to access the most recent MWR Newsletter
Additional resources
Check out these links to other relevant curricula and educational resources.
Educating Young People About Water
EPA’s Office of Environmental Education
ForestKinder
Give Water A Hand
Home Science: Backyard Education
New England Environmental Education Alliance
North Branch Nature Center ECO Institute
Project Learning Tree
Project WET
Project WILD
UVM Watershed Alliance
Vermont Institute of Natural Science
Vermont SWEEP
Vermont Trout in the Classroom
Vital Communities Watershed Quest
Watershed for Every Classroom
Wellborn HUB – Upper Valley Teaching Place Collaborative
For more information
For more information please contact us.
Teacher Resources
The White River watershed provides diverse opportunities for students to learn important academic skills and to benefit their communities through service learning. Here are a few resources to get you started.
Service Learning
The WRP coordinates seasonal, hands-on, volunteer events focused on watershed stewardship. Check out our Annual Volunteer Events for more information about opportunities during the school year.
Monitoring the White River Program
Since 2010 the WRP’s Monitoring the White River Program (MWR) has been engaging White River watershed teachers and students in classroom and field work activities that raise awareness about watershed issues and create opportunities for hands-on, place-based ecology education.
The WRP provides the following FREE resources for participating teachers:
1. Content specialist support for tailored classroom and field work activities associated with the 4 MWR (and one USDA Forest Service snorkeling) units below:
Fall/spring MWR unit options
Winter MWR unit options
2. Access to a Lending Library of monitoring equipment and publications
3. Networking opportunities with teachers, state and federal biologists, and other resource people
4. Seasonal newsletters highlighting MWR programs, events, and resources
Additional resources
Check out these links to other relevant curricula and educational resources.
Educating Young People About Water
EPA’s Office of Environmental Education
ForestKinder
Give Water A Hand
Home Science: Backyard Education
New England Environmental Education Alliance
North Branch Nature Center ECO Institute
Project Learning Tree
Project WET
Project WILD
UVM Watershed Alliance
Vermont Institute of Natural Science
Vermont SWEEP
Vermont Trout in the Classroom
Vital Communities Watershed Quest
Watershed for Every Classroom
Wellborn HUB – Upper Valley Teaching Place Collaborative
For more information
For more information please contact us.