Field Trips

Rafts transport students to study sites

Alberta RiverWatch is a program of award-winning field trips offered to science students in junior and senior high school. The program has operated throughout each spring and fall since 1995 and approximately 5000 students now monitor river water quality each year.

During a busy six-hour day, students travel to a series of shoreline study sites aboard large inflatable rafts. These "rubber buses" float a ten kilometer section of quiet water right within a student's own community.

Students conduct water chemistry testing

Each RiverWatch raft is equipped as a floating laboratory complete with kits to measure dissolved oxygen, phosphates, nitrogen, pH, turbidity, temperature, flow rate, bacteria and aquatic invertebrate populations.

Because Alberta RiverWatch combines environmental science with the fun of a rafting adventure, the trip is in great demand and bookings are recommended a year in advance.

For bookings call - Edmonton 780-454-4347, Calgary 403-590-5330 or toll free 1-888-993-6300.