MLHS graduate takes ag awareness message to Basin schools

QUINCY — Pulling out plastic cups, Cocoa Puffs cereal, pudding snacks and plastic spoons, Heather Drader is ready to bring a message of environmental awareness to first-graders at Mountain View Elementary School.

What is the assignment? To identify different layers found within the earth, an assignment that is not only academically challenging, but piques the interest and appetites of young minds like Jessica Thompson.

"There's rocks under the earth," said Thompson, looking at her edible model of the earth's layers beginning with the chocolate pudding that represents topsoil, caramel pudding for subsoil and balls of chocolate cereal that represent rock formations.

Working for the Grant County Conservation District as the coordinator for the Water on Wheels (or WOW) program, Drader's job is to visit schools throughout Adams, Grant, Lincoln and Franklin counties to teach students about watersheds, soils, groundwater and conservation — an appropriate message any time of year, but especially for Earth Day.

"A lot of parents and adults don't know the issues with wells and well waters and by educating the students they're able to take that (message) home with them and talk to parents," Drader said.

The WOW program which first began in 2000, is intended to provide hands-on demonstrations using computer models, field trips and in-class activities which are taught in alignment with preparing students in elementary through high school to take the Washington Assessment of Student Learning test.

Aside from preparing students to do well on the WASL, Drader said the other goal is to "let them know that everything they do impacts the environment in some good or bad way."

From teaching students how to be stream keepers, plant trees, or pick up litter, there is something for all ages to do in the WOW program.

"They learn that you don't have to be an adult to do some of the scientific things that are really fun," Drader said.

A 1998 graduate of Moses Lake High School, Drader received her bachelor of science from Washington State University and later went on to study atmospheric science at the University of Washington, having previously worked as an irrigation systems evaluator, field crew coordinator and lifeguard.

When asked what makes the WOW program unique, Drader looks first to the Basin's strong ties to agriculture.

"We're one of the most agricultural areas in the state," Drader said. "Just because many come from a farm (background) doesn't necessarily mean they understand the impacts that agriculture has on our individual lives and why it's important to maintain and improve those different things."

As a native to the Basin, Drader's love of science has led her to recognize environmental needs right here in Moses Lake such as educating people on algae blooms in the lake and the impacts a human presence has in areas like the sand dunes.

"It's a really unique area; if we didn't have the irrigation water coming in it would essentially be a dessert," she said of Moses Lake.

Making sure future generations understand the importance of water use and protecting ecosystems is something Drader wants to continue to do through the WOW program by reaching out to smaller towns, a task she is more than willing to take on.

"It's one of those jobs no matter where you go the kids love what you're teaching them," said Drader. "It's interactive, they're always going to be excited."