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Program Description
The River Mile is a network of teachers, students and partners throughout the Columbia River Watershed who conduct research, resource managment projects and utilize sections of the Columbia River and its tributaries as their outdoor laboratory.
The program began with schools adopting one mile sections of the Columbia River within Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area and learning about those sections. Today many groups are working with bodies of water closer to their school, usually within walking distance. All of this water ends up in the Columbia River and affects the other sections. |
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Upcoming Events
The River Mile Fall Workshop
Septenber 26, 2013
8:00AM-5:00PM
Grand Coulee, Washington
Explore crayfish and ArcGIS Online.
Field Investigations Workshop
October 4th and 5th, 2013
Learn how to create and lead field investigations, and lead students to develop their own field investigations. |
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Program Vision and Goals
Vision
Our vision is to link classrooms with real world laboratories in their own "backyards" where they collaborate with National Park Service staff to collect, analyze, interpret and share ecosystem data throughout the Columbia River Watershed. Together they form a network of resource managers, scientists, environmental educators, teachers and students exploring the essential question "How do relationships between components of an ecosystem in a watershed affect water quality?"
Goals
To create and maintain The River Mile network
- Encourage an appreciation for the natural world and ecosystem processes
- Instill critical thinking skills and abilities related to human interactions with the environment
- Build connections with National Parks and the watershed to increase stewardship
- Develop a positive relationship between the park and the community
- Increase community involvement in the management of the park
- Build a connection between school curriculum and park resources
- Provide resources and training in inquiry and science
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Welcome to the 7th Year of The River Mile!
The 2013-14 school year marks the 7th year for The River Mile. It has undergone many changes and additions, but the main thing The River Mile is about is connections between educators, students, scientists, resource managers and other partners through a variety of networking tools.
ArcGIS On-line, Facebook, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area's website which hosts The River Mile's webpages, Blogs for The River Mile and the Crayfish Study, electronic newsletters, webinars and conference calls throughout year all help link participants. This newsletter is all about sharing what we know, learn and still want to learn about the Columbia River Watershed.
In this newsletter you will find useful information about upcoming events, ways to share, links to resources and the all important project reports request! Be sure to check out The River Mile's map in ArcGIS Online too!
If you have any suggestions for future newsletter articles or want to submit an article please let me know by email or by phone at 509-754-7848.
Janice Elvidge
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Crayfish Study
In May 2013 we began The River Mile's Crayfish Study to supplement Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area's crayfish research. The raw data from the 2012 National Park Service project is in and will be available/viewable shortly. To date most education participants have not submitted their data.
Participation in the Crayfish Study can be done very simply by just observing crayfish in the field, taking a photo, noting your location and determining it's species. To submit your observations just tell us where you saw the crayfish, general latitude and longitude of the site is fine, and the date observed. This will give scientists a general idea of what species are where and when. This is very important information.
If you don't have a GPS unit, no problem. When you return to your classroom go to your ArcGIS Online map of your site and, using the location tool, click on the approximate location where you observed the crayfish. Then, note the provided latitude and longitude. You can also do this with Google Maps.
If you have more time and/or want to develop a more in-depth study there is additional information scientists can use: water quality, population density, and gender and size information. To learn more about the study check out The River Mile's website pages for the Crayfish Study.
We know everyone is seeing crayfish out there. Please remember to send in your crayfish data, no matter how old or simple it may be. Every bit of information is valuable!
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Professional Development Opportunities
All Professional Development listed here is FREE and include FREE Clock Hours. Follow this link for more information or to register.
The River Mile's Fall Workshop
Thursday September 26, 2013
8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Grand Coulee, WA
Hands on ArcGIS Online training and the Crayfish Study!
We will conduct a short ArcGIS Online training which incorporates what was learend at Esri's T3G Teachers Training in June 2013. You'll learn some basics of using ArcGIS Online, how it differs from ArcGIS Explorer Online and how to use ArcGIS and GIS as analysis tools. If you have participated in any ArcGIS training through The River Mile in the past you need to take this workshop so you are current with ArcGIS. We are no longer using the same program!
Bring your own laptops, tablets and smartphones for this training. If you don't have your own, don't worry we'll be using Grand Coulee Dam Middle School's computer lab.
We will also explore the Crayfish Study. Learn how to identify species, measure and weigh specimens, learn about different ways you can participate and learn how to record and submit your data.
Introduction To ArcGIS Online Webinars
Monday September 16, 2013, 5:30PM
Monday September 23, 2013, 4:30PM
In order to save time during the in-person training the Introduction to ArcGIS Online will be covered through a webinar.
You need to have seen this webniar before the September 26th workshop. If you participated in the August 13th ArcGIS training you do not need to see the webinar. We covered it during class.
This webinar is an overview of the online mapping program ArcGIS Online. In this overview you will see what is available through the free online capabilities as well as through the subscription service for organizations. If you have used ArcGIS Explorer Online in the past you will need to see this introduction. ArcGIS Explorer Online will not be supported in the future so ArcGIS Online is the alternative. See what you can do with maps! 1 free clock hour
Field Investigations
Friday October 4th 6:30PM to 8:30PM at Davenport High School
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Saturday October 5th 8:45AM-3:30PM at the Fort Spokane Day Use Area.
This Field Investigations workshop was originally created in partnership with a professor from the Department of Teacher Education at Gonzaga University to introduce pre-service teachers to their National Parks and explore inquiry in science education. Twice a year NPS and university staff lead Gonzaga students through this training. The October 4-5th class is the fall offering of this training, so you will be joining Teacher Education students and staff from Gonzaga University. Friday evening we will meet at Davenport High School where you will get started in your field investigations experience. The Instructor is Janice Elvidge, Education Specialist, NPS Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. Saturday morning we'll meet at the Fort Spokane Day Use Area (@23 miles north of Davenport). Saturday's instructors are Kathleen Nitta, Lecturer, Department of Teacher Education, Gonzaga University and Janice Elvidge, Education Specialist, NPS Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. The training, materials, lunch and clock hours are provided! Registration closes September 30, 2013. |
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Natural Resource Career Skills Days
October 29th and 30th
The next Natural Resource Career Skills Days will be held on October 29th at the Evans Campground near Kettle Falls and on October 30th at the Fort Spokane Day Use Area near Fort Spokane. These events are for high schools from schools or school districts that currently participate in "The River Mile" program. Students explore a variety of career options with the National Park Service and other federal, state and county agencies and organizations. The goal is to encourage students to pursue internships and future careers in sciences and natural resources.
Students choose between a number of different presentations. Programs often include electro fishing, seine netting, interpretation and environmental education, weather forecasting, geology and paleontology, GPS and mapping, knot tying, boat patrol and safety, crayfish identification and dissection, crayfish trap construction, bat boxes and habitat management. Each session includes an introduction to the career field and a hands-on activity.
Presenters represent a small portion of the 100 to 175 partners who assist with "The River Mile" programs and activities.
Participation is by pre-registration. Pre-registration is open through October 10th. For more information and to obtain a pre-registration form contact us! |
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On-Line Networking
ArcGIS On-Line
In June 2013 Janice Elvidge participated in the T3G Teacher Training at the Esri campus. This week long intensive training has provided new skills and options available through ArcGIS On-Line. Although ArcGIS Explorer Online is not going away, it will no longer be supported. So ArcGIS Online is now the main mapping and data sharing venue for The River Mile.
ArcGIS Online is an easy way to share what your group learns about your river mile site with others throughout the watershed. Each school/district develops a webpage on their school's website and then a base map in ArcGIS On-line. You may share photos and data about your site. Then The River Mile's ArcGIS On-Line map shares a link to your school's river mile webpage to share with others.
ArcGIS Online also offers the ability to share the different stories of your site through Story Maps. You can also use ArcGIS Online to analyze your data and then share that analysis. You can learn how to use ArcGIS Online through an introductory webinar put on by The River Mile as well as in-person trainings.
To learn more about ArcGIS On-Line click here to learn about upcoming training opportunities check out The River Mile'sProfessional Development webpage.
NatureMapping On-line
NatureMapping is also an excellent way of sharing your plant, animal and water quality data. Entry is by regional or watershed code. Watch for training opportunities so you and your students can contrbute real world data!
You can learn more about NatureMapping and data entry here.
National Park Service Website and Blogs
Check out the park's webpages for
The River Mile's blog
! This is the location where we store materials and information you might need--things like the resource bibliography, links to the Field Investigation webinar and more! You can also learn about other
education programs
the park offers!
Flickr
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area has a Flickr account where we can share photos! There is a group for The River Mile, so if you'd like to join so we can share photos of the great work you are all doing, let Janice Elvidge know. Check it out! Click Here
Facebook
The River Mile is also on Facebook! Keep up to date with what everyone is doing! Click Here |
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Upcoming Events!
In-Person Training
The River Mile Fall Workshop
Septenber 26, 2013
8:00AM-5:00PM
Grand Coulee, Washington
Explore crayfish and ArcGIS Online! We will take a closer look at crayfish and the Crayfish Study. Participate in hands-on training in using ArcGIS Online. Note: you really should participate in the "Introduction to ArcGIS Online Webinar" prior to this in-person training.
Field Investigations Workshop
October 4th and 5th, 2013
October 4th 6:30-8:30PM, Davenport High School, Davenport, WA
October 5th 8:45AM-3:30PM, Fort Spokane Day Use Area
Explore the connections between the land and the water through inquiry-based activities. Learn how to create and lead field investigations, and lead students to develop their own field investigations. Take your student activities and research projects to the next level!
Follow this link to learn more.
Webinars
Introduction to The River Mile
September 16, 2013, 4:30PM
September 23, 2013, 3:15PM
Curious about The River Mile? Want to learn more about it before joining? This webinar will fill you in on the history of the program, model student programs, teacher training and more.
Introduction to ArcGIS Online
September 16, 2013, 5:30PM
September 23, 2013, 4:30PM
The introduction to ArcGIS Online webinar explains a little about what ArcGIS and GIS is and introduces you to some of the mapmaking and storytelling capabilities of this online program.
Follow this link to learn more.
Student Programs
Natural Resource Career Skills Days
October 29th, Evans Campground
October 30th, Fort Spokane Day Use Area
9-12th grades
Contact the park's Education Specialist for more information and to obtain the pre-registration form.
Balde Eagle Festival
February 21, 2014
Grand Coulee, Washington
3rd-8th grades
A festival all about birds! Presenters include Beth Paragamian, Idaho Fish and Game; West Valley Outdoor Learning Center and Spokane Audubon Society. Program information is usually available in December.
Student Science Symposium,
May 22, 2014
Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington
3rd-8th grades
Program information is usually available in March.
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Lake Roosevelt Area Schools Equipment Loans
Equipment loans are available to schools within the Lake Roosevelt area. A variety of equipment is available. A complete list is available upon request. YSI-556 water meters can be checked out to those Lake Roosevelt teachers that are certified. If you need certification, please contact the park's education specialist for information on the certification process.
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