Water quality institute invites students

MOSES LAKE— Eight elementary school kids put their hand in the air, anxious to be the first to be called on to give their water quality results.

“I really like science stuff because of all the experiments I get to do,” said 10-year-old Vaughn Koreis. “Tube-testing has been the best thing I’ve learned so far because it was really interesting.”

Koreis and other 4th-graders took part in the water quality institute on Wednesday at Connelly Park. The Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District has put together this event for three years and this was the first year that elementary students were added. High school students participate for four days and are required to complete a power point presentation. Middle school students attend for two days and elementary for one. The institute is from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.

“We go to the schools, talk to teachers and hand pick the kids,” said camp organizer Kirk Carpenter. “We try to give it to the kids that are really interested and normally wouldn’t have the opportunity to take part in something like this.”

There were so many interested elementary students that the district split them into two different groups so that they had some students one day and a new group the next.

“I thought it would be fun to go out on the boat and test the water,” said William Boswell, a Knolls Vista student. “I like being out on the water.”

Students meet at the district at 8 a.m. to go over safety precautions. They go to to the park where they learn the basics of water quality, have lunch, test water by the docks and go out on the boats to do more testing. They record temperature changes in different places, dissolved oxygen and testing for suspended particles, said instructor Jack Horne.

“Most of the kids had very little background but they got right into it and caught on quickly,” said Horne, a science educator for 40 years. “It’s great to see the kids doing applied science because going out helps them understand the concepts in a different way.”

There were two students from Moses Lake High School helping instruct the kids as part of their senior project. The project requires each student to experience 25 hours out at a job field of choice, write an essay on the selected job and produce a power point that shows what they accomplished.

“Kids usually aren’t my favorite thing but this group is very polite and bright and I like teaching them,” said Danielle Deich, who participated as a student in the institute last year. “I think this is an awesome way to spread the word about how healthy our lake is.”

Instructors and district members hope the kids will learn more than just water quality testing.

“I hope they take away the fact that the health of the lake is sensitive and we must all do our part to keep it healthy” Horne said.

Carpenter hopes the knowledge will spread.

“I think it is very important for the lake to have the public educated on its condition and know how to take care of it properly,” he said. “The best way for this to happen is to educate the youth because the excitement is there for them to bring home to their parents.”

This was not only the first time that most of the students learned about water quality, it was also the first time for some to be on a boat.

“I’ve never been on one before,” said 9-year-old Christina Flores. “I’m not nervous though, I’m actually really excited for it because I like water.”

Boswell wasn’t worried either.

“This life jacket they gave us will keep me safe because if I fall off, I will just float and swim,” Boswell said. “Also it is light and warm and makes me feel cool.”

Along with life jackets, the kids were also given goggles to ensure safety while participating. They are sent home with goodies, including T-shirts.

“My hope for this program is that it keeps expanding,” Carpenter said. “We want all who are interested to be able to participate.”

For more information, call the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District at 509-765-8716.