Environmental quality is paramount for the proper stewardship of our planet. Educating the youth is crucial as they represent our future, responsible for caring for the environment. In recent years, the horticulture agent in Mason County has been instrumental in educating 7th and 8th-grade students on water quality. The emphasis was on aquatic life, emphasizing the significance of water quality and conducting tests on various parameters such as pH and oxygen levels to illustrate their impact on aquatic ecosystems. Through hands-on activities, students across Mason County actively participated, gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of preserving the Earth for future generations.

Classes were conducted for all 7th-grade students in Mason County. Collaboratively, the horticulture agent and program assistant prepared for the program by visiting a local farm to collect aquatic specimens. Each session focused on educating students about pollution and its impact on aquatic life. Through group activities, students assessed the pollution levels at the farm, categorizing them as low, medium, or high based on the aquatic species present. Equipped with identification kits, microscopes, and water samples from the farm, each group engaged actively in the learning process.

Preparations were underway for the 8th-grade class to visit the stream adjacent to the school when it was discovered days before the visit that the stream was heavily polluted due to a sewage pipe directly discharging into it. Consequently, the program was adapted, and the class was conducted indoors. The agent and program assistant collaborated to gather water samples from five distinct locations. During the session, students worked in small groups to test the pH and dissolved oxygen levels of the samples, attempting to identify their source among options like a pond, river, bottled water, or either of two streams. This exercise underscored the significance of clean water and the adverse effects of pollution-induced oxygen depletion on aquatic life.

Overall, students not only found the classes engaging but also acquired essential knowledge concerning water quality and environmental stewardship.