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 Powerpoint
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Milton High School
By Producer, Kelly Meinhart
 ave you ever
felt like going back to high school and starting over? Normally
I would say an emphatic "No." However, after my trip
to the Milton High School Environmental Studies class, taught
by Mike Yeager, I'd have to rethink my response.
 he program is
as unique as they come, and would inspire anyone to get involved
in stream studies. It all began three years ago as a way for
students to become closely involved with the environment by
getting hands-on experience. And so the class, made up of sophomores
through seniors began their studies on the nearby Limestone
Run.
imestone Run is a tributary to the Susquehanna River.
And unfortunately, it is seriously impacted by agricultural
activity in this rural area of Montour and Northumberland
Counties. The impacts are pretty obvious by simply looking
at the stream and the manicured and plowed fields which
lead right up to the banks. Banks that are now tumbling
into the streambed. And so, sediment loads are a main
issue for the Limestone Run.
 ealizing
this, the High School applied for, and received a Growing
Greener grant for $23,920 so that the students could
assess Limestone Run. And that's not all they're doing.
Mr. Yeager's program is impressive in many ways, but
one of the most impressive things is that his students
are learning on a Master's level. His students can tell
you all about Fluvial Geomorphology (FGM), along with
the longitudinal and cross-sectional profiles, pebble
counts and chemical and macroinvertebrate tests for
Limestone Run. Not to mention collecting and reducing
their own data, and using GIS software to make sense
of it all.….need I say more?
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 ctually,
there's much more to say about Mr. Yeager and his class.
The students not only understand the technical aspects
and overall importance of the work they're doing, but
they also understand the need to share this information
with others, and to create partnerships. The students
are working with the nearby Chillisquaque Creek watershed
Association, and have actually combined their efforts
to form one watershed organization that covers both
the Chillisquaque Creek and Limestone Run. I visited
with the students this past December for a presentation
about their work, and a tour of Limestone Run. The students
prepared a multi-media, on-stage presentation for DEP
Secretary David Hess, local and state officials, neighboring
watershed groups and others.
 ou can
check out their Power Point presentation on their project,
which includes all the technical details by clicking
on the Water Lilly above. Thanks to Mike and his students
for their presentation and the tour - and "Congrats"
on your accomplishments!
 e sure
to tune in to Watershed Weekly's "Watershed Hero"
feature in the upcoming months - you will certainly
see Mr. Yeager featured for his work. |
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For more information about the Environmental
Studies program at Milton High School, contact:
Mike Yeager
Milton High School
700 Mahoning St.
Milton, PA 17847
Mly01@mail.milton.k12.pa.us
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