TraintheTeacherstoTraintheKidsAquatic Invasive Species Education for Otter Tail CountyAquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

Jerry Horgen Otter Tail County AIS Task ForceMoriya Rufer RMB Environmental Laboratories, IncyEmelia Hauck RMB Environmental Laboratories, IncDan McEwen RMB Environmental Laboratories, Inc

DevelopmentDevelopment• The idea originated from Jerry Horgen, volunteer on the Otter 

l k d d h l dTail County AIS Task Force and retired school superintendent

• 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 ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

Programs DevelopedPrograms Developed1. 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 ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

Programs DevelopersPrograms DevelopersSchool Liaison: Jerry Horgen (volunteer)

R i d Ed i P f i l• Retired Education Professional– 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 friendcare of the lake  like a friend.

AIS ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

Programs DevelopersPrograms 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 ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

1 In School Curriculum1. 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 ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

1 In School Curriculum1. In-School Curriculum• This Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) educational tool kit contains lessons for 

up to one week of classesup 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 timetime.

• 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.

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

AIS ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

1 In School Curriculum1. In-School Curriculum

Day 1: Introduction to Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)SummaryDay one is an introduction to AIS through watching a DNR d id (A i I i S i Mi

Day 1: Introduction to Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)

documentary video (Aquatic Invasive Species – 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 specieslearning 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 ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

1 In School Curriculum1. In-School Curriculum

Day 2: Ecosystems and Food WebsSummaryStudents are presented information about aquatic food webs 

d h ifi bi l f l d i i i i

Day 2: Ecosystems and Food Webs

and the specific biology of selected aquatic invasive species (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 foodbiology 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 ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

1 In School Curriculum1. In-School Curriculum

Day 3: Case Study: the Zebra MusselSummaryStudents are given information about how Zebra mussels spread 

d h i bi l i l i Th l i l k d

Day 3: Case Study: the Zebra Mussel

and their biological requirements. They are also given lake data 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 theof each lake for being infested with Zebra mussels in the future. Then each small group presents their findings to the class. MaterialsMaterials– Teacher Guide (pdf) – Understanding Lake Data article (pdf) – Answer Guide (ppt)(pp )

AIS ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

1 In School Curriculum1. In-School Curriculum

Day 4: AIS PreventionSummaryStudents are given information about what is being done in Mi AIS d h Mi l

Day 4: AIS Prevention

Minnesota to prevent AIS and the current Minnesota laws meant 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 theactual 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. MaterialsMaterials– Teacher Guide (pdf) – PowerPoint (ppt) – MN DNR AIS Videos (YouTube channel)

AIS ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

2 In-School Presentations2. In School Presentations

• Present at classrooms or school assembliesPresent at classrooms or school assemblies• Start with 10 minute AIS overview

AIS ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

2 In-School Presentations2. In School Presentations

• Present at classrooms or school assembliesPresent at classrooms or school assemblies• Start with 10 minute AIS overview

l S d !• Play AIS Jeopardy!

AIS ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

2 In-School Presentations2. In School Presentations

• Present at classrooms or school assembliesPresent at classrooms or school assemblies• Start with 10 minute AIS overview

l S d !• Play AIS Jeopardy!• Students win prizes

AIS ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

3 Field Trips3. Field Trips

• Pelican Lake infested with zebra musselsPelican Lake, infested with zebra mussels• Fair Hills Resort has a large boat that can fit 50 peoplepeople

AIS ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

3 Field Trips3. Field Trips

• May and September offer Field TripsMay and September offer Field Trips• Bag lunches are provided on the boat for students and teachersstudents 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 ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

3 Field Trips3. Field Trips

• Boat inspection demonstrationBoat inspection demonstration• Hand out AIS Fighters t‐shirts

AIS ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

3 Field Trips3. Field Trips

AIS ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

Student Video ContestStudent Video Contest

• Want to encourage students to develop waysWant 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 teacherFi Wi I i h L k F F ll• First Winner: Isaiah Lemke, Fergus Falls

• Example video: next slide

AIS ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

ImpactImpact

• 2 Teacher Trainings in 20132 Teacher Trainings in 2013• 13 School Visits in 2014‐20168 i i 20 20 6• 8 Boat Trips in 2014‐2016

• Total of 995 Students Reached!

AIS ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

Incentives for SchoolsIncentives for Schools

• To make it easier for the teachers to participate in p pthese programs, we:– Provide lunchProvide 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/programsPresented on radio spots/programs

AIS ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

Keys to SuccessKeys to Success

• Need a school liaison to foster relationshipsNeed 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 ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty

Questions?Questions?

AIS ∙ AquaticInvasiveSpeciesEducationforOtterTailCounty