Train the Teachers to Train the Kids Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

Jerry Horgen Moriya Rufer y Emelia Hauck Dan McEwen

Otter Tail County AIS Task Force RMB Environmental Laboratories, Inc RMB Environmental Laboratories, Inc RMB Environmental Laboratories, Inc

Development • The idea originated from Jerry Horgen, volunteer on the Otter  Tail County AIS Task Force and retired school superintendent l k d d h l d • Funded by Otter Tail County AIS Task Force through the  county AIS funding provided by the legislature • Goal is to teach school kids about aquatic invasive species  – They are the next generation lake users – They can teach their parents about how to prevent AIS

AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

Programs Developed 1. In‐school curriculum  development and teacher  training 2. Program presentation at  schools 3. On‐site school field trip to  area lake infested with zebra  mussels

AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

Programs Developers School Liaison: Jerry Horgen (volunteer) • Retired Education Professional R i d Ed i P f i l – Former  High School Principal – Former School Superintendent Former School Superintendent • His Roles: – foster communication with the schools and science  teachers – schedule programs – Encourages students to be friends of the lake and “take  care of the lake” like a friend. care of the lake like a friend AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

Programs Developers Content Experts:  Moriya Rufer & Emelia Hauck (contractors) • Aquatic Ecologists at RMB Environmental  Aquatic Ecologists at RMB Environmental Laboratories, Inc.   • Their roles: – develop the content – train the teachers – present the programs to the students – design and develop the student give‐a‐ways AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

1 In-School 1. In School Curriculum • In April 2013, School Curriculum was developed – Meets state standards – Provides a week’s worth of lessons and activities – Included real specimens of invasive species – Available online (http://rmbel.info/ais)

• In April 2013, a teacher training was held at Lake Service  Cooperative in Fergus Falls, MN • In May 2013, some teachers implemented the curriculum in  Underwood, Parkers Prairie, and Battle Lake

AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

1 In-School 1. In School Curriculum •

This Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) educational tool kit contains lessons for  up to one week of classes up to one week of classes.

•

Each day’s activity is designed to fill an hour of class time, but activities  can be shortened or lengthened to fit the teacher’s plans and available  time. time

•

Lessons can be given consecutively over a week, or individually as stand‐ alone lessons.

•

All supplies, diagrams, printouts and worksheets will be provided  electronically in a kit.

•

g p p y , Prior research can be assigned as preparatory homework for the class, or  research material can be provided during class.

AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

1 In-School 1. In School Curriculum Day 1: Introduction to Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Day 1: Introduction to Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Summary Day one is an introduction to AIS through watching a DNR  d documentary video (Aquatic Invasive Species – id (A i I i S i Mi Minnesota  Waters At Risk), and then discussing which AIS are present in  Otter Tail County. AIS specimens will be provided for hands‐on  learning about the identification of these species learning about the identification of these species.  Materials – – – – –

Teacher Guide (pdf)  MN DNR Video (YouTube 24 minutes) MN DNR Video (YouTube, 24 minutes) MN DNR Video (YouTube, 11 minutes) PowerPoint (ppt)  Preserved AIS specimens (get from Moriya) p (g y )

AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

1 In-School 1. In School Curriculum Day 2: Ecosystems and Food Webs Day 2: Ecosystems and Food Webs Summary Students are presented information about aquatic food webs  and the specific biology of selected aquatic invasive species  d h ifi bi l f l d i i i i (what they eat, etc). Small groups will be assigned 1‐2 AIS, and  using the information about basic aquatic food webs and AIS  biology they will explain how that AIS will affect the aquatic food biology they will explain how that AIS will affect the aquatic food  web. Then each small group presents their findings to the class.  Materials – – – – –

Teacher Guide (pdf)  Teacher Guide (pdf) PowerPoint (ppt)  Background info for reading (pdf)  AIS factsheets (pdf)  Importance of Aquatic Biodiversity article (pdf)

AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

1 In-School 1. In School Curriculum Day 3: Case Study: the Zebra Mussel Day 3: Case Study: the Zebra Mussel Summary Students are given information about how Zebra mussels spread  and their biological requirements. d h i bi l i l i Th They are also given lake data  l i l k d and characteristics for Otter Tail County lakes. In small groups,  they will use the lake data and characteristics to assess the risk  of each lake for being infested with Zebra mussels in the of each lake for being infested with Zebra mussels in the  future. Then each small group presents their findings to the  class.  Materials – Teacher Guide (pdf)  – Understanding Lake Data article (pdf)  – Answer Guide (pp (ppt))

AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

1 In-School 1. In School Curriculum Day 4: AIS Prevention Day 4: AIS Prevention Summary Students are given information about what is being done in  Mi Minnesota to prevent AIS and the current Minnesota laws meant  AIS d h Mi l to stop the spread of AIS. They are also taught how to inspect a  watercraft for AIS by going outside and working through an  actual boat A boat could be provided from a volunteer, the  actual boat. A boat could be provided from a volunteer the teacher or the DNR. Small dot stickers can be placed around the  boat and the kids need to inspect the boat to find the stickers.  Materials – Teacher Guide (pdf)  – PowerPoint (ppt)  – MN DNR AIS Videos (YouTube channel)

AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

2 In 2. In-School School Presentations • Present at classrooms or school assemblies Present at classrooms or school assemblies • Start with 10 minute AIS overview

AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

2 In 2. In-School School Presentations • Present at classrooms or school assemblies Present at classrooms or school assemblies • Start with 10 minute AIS overview • Play AIS Jeopardy! l S d !

AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

2 In 2. In-School School Presentations • • • •

Present at classrooms or school assemblies Present at classrooms or school assemblies Start with 10 minute AIS overview Play AIS Jeopardy! l S d ! Students win prizes

AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

3 Field Trips 3. • Pelican Pelican Lake, infested with zebra mussels Lake infested with zebra mussels • Fair Hills Resort has a large boat that can fit 50  people

AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

3 Field Trips 3. • May May and September offer Field Trips and September offer Field Trips • Bag lunches are provided on the boat for  students and teachers students and teachers • Students learn about:  – The effects of zebra mussels in the lake – How biologists sample the lake for plankton, zebra  mussels, and aquatic plants – Hands‐on aquatic plant identification activity AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

3 Field Trips 3. • Boat inspection demonstration Boat inspection demonstration • Hand out AIS Fighters t‐shirts

AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

3 Field Trips 3.

AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

Student Video Contest • Want Want to encourage students to develop ways  to encourage students to develop ways to train other students • Video Contest: offer cash prize to student and  Video Contest: offer cash prize to student and teacher • First Winner: Isaiah Lemke, Fergus Falls Fi Wi I i hL k F F ll • Example video: next slide

AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

Impact • • • •

2 Teacher Trainings in 2013 2 Teacher Trainings in 2013 13 School Visits in 2014‐2016 8 8 Boat Trips in 2014‐2016 i i 20 20 6 Total of 995 Students Reached!

AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

Incentives for Schools • To make it easier for the teachers to participate in  p p these programs, we: – Provide lunch – Provide give‐a‐ways Provide give a ways – Write up articles in local newspapers about the  teachers and students – The teacher receives recognition through a memo  from Jerry to the principal. – Teachers/school program involvement is written up in: Teachers/school program involvement is written up in: • Lake Journals • Coalition of Lake Association’s newsletters • Presented on radio spots/programs Presented on radio spots/programs AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

Keys to Success • Need Need a school liaison to foster relationships  a school liaison to foster relationships with the schools and teachers (Jerry) • Provide school incentives (see previous slide) Provide school incentives (see previous slide) • Communicate with principal and teacher on  issues of concern. issues of concern. • Write articles in the local newspaper, lake  association journal, COLA, AIS Task Force etc. association journal, COLA, AIS Task Force etc.  with a picture of their work or pontoon  experiences. AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County

Questions?

AIS ∙ Aquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail County