Kids Get their Feet Wet and Help Search for Aquatic Invasive Species
On July 19th, campers at the Appleton Summer Camp at Memorial Park had the opportunity to learn about aquatic invasive species (AIS) and even helped search a local lake! Winnebago Waterways Program AIS Coordinator Chris Acy started off by asking the kids to help get a definition of AIS before asking how invasive species get from one place to another. The campers were very excited to point out ways AIS are spread and were very good at identifying all the ways AIS get into our lakes. All the kids were then able to learn how to identify several AIS using specimens that Chris brought along.
Campers then put their new found knowledge to use right away as they helped search the shoreline of a local pond for invasive species. The kids used Aquascopes (large PVC tubes with a piece of plastic to view things underwater) and found a multitude of native plants and animals. Campers concluded their AIS adventure by completing an activity to learn about the habitat, impacts, and origin of three AIS; Curly leaf pondweed, Round goby, and Zebra mussels. A new wave of kids dedicated to stopping aquatic invasive hitchhikers are out protecting our lakes!
Interested in having Chris come talk to your group about aquatic invasive species? Contact him at chris@fwwa.org or by calling 920-460-3674.
Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.
To learn more about water hyacinth and its impact to Wisconsin’s waters and economy, visit http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Invasives/.
This article was written by Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator for the Winnebago Waterways Program covering Calumet, Fond du Lac, and Winnebago Counties.
