Water and Wildlife
Workshop focuses on Deckers Creek and the environment
Morgantown Dominion Post
23 May 2011
By Bob Gay
Area youth had the chance to expand their knowledge of the local
environment and learn how to help preserve it during the Water and
Wildlife Workshop sponsored by the Friends of Deckers Creek (FODC)
organization Sunday afternoon at their Outdoor Learning Park in
Sabraton.
“We want to educate the youth and families in the community,” said
Shannon Dey of the FODC. “We hope to make them more aware of the
environment in their backyard.”
The workshop featured a variety of activities both in and alongside
Deckers Creek. Participants could take a stream tour, join in a
scavenger hunt, take a tree and plant identification walk, and
participate in a litter cleanup along with other learning opportunities.
FODC Americorps worker Brian Carlson led groups directly into the
waters of Deckers Creek during the event so they could sample the
aquatic insect life of the stream by scooping up samples from the
streambed.
“We can assess the condition of the stream by checking the aquatic
insects,” he said, “as the diversity of insects indicate the health of
the stream.” FODC Youth Advisory Board member Evan Lintz was one of the
members helping out with the workshop.
The three-year member of the board is excited about the group’s efforts
to improve the creek. “I enjoy working with a cool group of kids who
work hard to get things done,” he said. “We just want to have a
positive effect on the environment.”