Continued Educational Outreach at the Las Vegas Wash

In October 2003, Mabel Hoggard Elementary School was honored by the Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee (LVWCC) for five years of participation with the Las Vegas Wash Project Coordination Team (LVWPCT) in educational outreach. The latest round of 5th graders to participate in outreach events were from Mr. Reed’s class, Mrs. Hodges’ class and Mr. Flynn’s class.

Mild winds greeted each group of approximately 24 students as they traveled to the Las Vegas Wash (Wash) to learn more about plants, animals, the global positioning system (GPS), and water quality, each including "hands on" activities for the students. For the most part, Mabel Hoggard 5th grade students become honorary scientists for the day while participating in a field trip designed specifically for their age group to teach the importance of our water quality. Prior to their visit to the Wash, LVWPCT staff members go into the classroom and explain the importance of water quality in the Wash and why so much time is spent on it.

Equipped with pencils, field books and magnifying glasses, students learn by hands-on experience with professional biologists and hydrologists. Classes are broken into four groups; the first of which is water quality. Each student has an opportunity to collect water quality samples for data such as conductivity, temperature, fecal coliform and pH.

The second station that the students experience is ecology. Here, students are allowed to use binoculars to see multiple animal and birds species. A portion of the time at this station also entails gathering and identifying plants and gathering clippings for their field books.

Next, the students visit the macroinvertebrates station. There a biologist, specializing in invertebrates, spends time teaching the students how studying these small creatures help monitor the water quality of the Wash. Armed with magnifying glasses, the students can view and identify multiple species.

The last station is GPS. LVWPCT staff instruct the students on the use of GPS to further validate studies on the Wash. Each student is given a hand-held GPS unit that has been programmed to lead the student to marked areas of the Wash. Once there, each student can win various gifts just by answering questions on water quality, ecology and macroinvertebrates.

The final portion of the field trip is a scenic drive along the Wash towards Lake Las Vegas ending at the Southern Nevada Water Systems (SNWS) Alfred Merritt Smith Water Treatment Facility. There, SNWS staff give an overview of the treatment plant system and the treatment process.

After the field trip, LVWPCT staff visit the classroom one last time to share with the students the results of their water quality testing. Overall, these educational activities provide students with a better understanding of the water cycle in the Las Vegas Valley, and it is our hope that they gain a better appreciation for the types of activities that scientists carry out to ensure a safe, high quality drinking water supply.