A Truly Unique Field Trip!

Our students have the exciting opportunity to participate in a very unique, one-day science field trip. The award-winning RiverWatch Science Program transports students in large, inflatable rafts to study water quality along a 10 km stretch of river. The rafts are floating laboratories equipped with science kits to sample water chemistry and nets to collect aquatic insects.

The focus of the field trip day is to determine the environmental health of a local river by comparing conditions above and below a sewage treatment plant. Students paddle the rafts and collect all the science data. A mid-way tour of the local water treatment facility helps focus attention on the personal impact that we all have on Alberta's water.

Academic Benefits

This hands-on ecology field trip has been designed to meet the Alberta Learning Curriculum for Secondary Science courses. The field trip data collected by students is analyzed back at school to support studies of environmental quality, environmental chemistry and freshwater ecosystems. Many participating schools have reported that their students score 10-13% higher than average on related sections of the Alberta Provincial Achievement Tests.

Support for this Field Trip

Alberta teachers book the RiverWatch Field Trip believing that hands-on experiences are the best way to teach and learn about ecology. Since starting in 1995, RiverWatch Field Trips have been in great demand across central and southern Alberta and more than 4000 students a year now gather data first-hand from their local rivers.

RiverWatch is managed by the Beyond Books Institute of Alberta, a not-for-profit education company operated by teachers for teachers. Beyond Books provides all the guides, support and equipment to make a worthwhile and memorable field trip. The rafts and science equipment were funded by:
Environment Canada
Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation
Canada Trust Friends of the Environment
City of Calgary Waterworks
Alberta Ecotrust Foundation
Shell Environmental Fund

The RiverWatch Web Site www.riverwatch.ab.ca helps students prepare for the field trip, preserve their data and analyze the health of their river. The web site was funded by:

RiverWatch has caught the attention of educators across Canada and recognized through several awards:

Trip Overview

Students leave the school in the morning and meet their guides at an upstream starting point. After receiving science and safety instruction, students wear personal floatation devices (PFD's) and enter large inflated rafts for a float trip on the river. At several shoreline stops along the 10-15 km route, students use science equipment to collect data on river chemistry and biology. Students are to bring clothing suited to the weather, lunch and drinks. The trip finishes off the water in the late afternoon and students return to the school.

Date(s): _____________________________________________________________

Students: _____________________________________________________________

Teachers: _____________________________________________________________

Parents: Parents interested in a day on the river are very welcome if space allows.

Transportation: ________________________________________________________

Meeting time at school: _________________________________________________

Departure time from school: ___________________________________________

River: _____________________________________________________________

River starting point: _________________________________________________

River finish point: _________________________________________________

River finish time: _________________________________________________

Arrival time back at school: ___________________________________________

Cost

The ________ fee for this trip covers a full day on the river including such costs as transportation, substitute teachers, raft equipment, guides, chemistry tests, insurance and GST.

The RiverWatch program operates entirely on a not-for-profit, user-pay basis and is independent of any government or school board support for day-to-day operations. If a family has concerns about any or all of this fee, please contact the teacher.

Cheques should be payable to: ___________________________________________________

Safety Is The Top Priority
The not-for-profit "Beyond Books Institute of Alberta" undertakes all reasonable steps to ensure that the "RiverWatch Science Program" is carried out in a safe manner and that there is not undue risk of injury or accident.

Perfect Safety Record
This is a low risk activity with continuous adult supervision and a perfect safety record. Since starting in 1995, the RiverWatch program has worked with over 15,000 students and there has not been any safety incident involving students, rafts, science equipment and medical attention.

Insurance
Both the participating school board and the Beyond Books Institute carry liability insurance.

Qualified Guides
All RiverWatch guides have post-secondary education and are trained river guides with standard first-aid certification or better. They have science or education backgrounds and enjoy both the field trip and the students. Guides carry a first-aid kit, rescue rope, two-way radio and a cell phone. There is a guide in each raft and the school is asked to provide one adult per boat.

Class One Rivers

Professional Rafts
RiverWatch rafts are commercial quality inflatable boats with a length of 5-7 metres with tubes of about one-metre diameter. These types of rafts are approved by Transport Canada.

Student Behavior
It is desirable but not necessary for students to be adequate swimmers and comfortable around water. PFD's must be worn in the rafts and along the shore. Water fighting, splashing with paddles, jumping into the river or jumping into other rafts is not permitted. Students wear eye goggles and latex gloves during chemical testing. Dangerous behaviors will not be tolerated.

Potential Hazards
Risks during a river study or raft float may include damage, loss, illness, injury or death from:

Things to Bring

Students are to dress for the weather and bring a lunch and drinks. Rubber boots and raincoats are provided on-site.

A trip may be modified in the event of light rain, cold or wind, but usually not cancelled. If the weather is a concern, students should also come to school with their books and homework completed in the event that the trip is postponed at the last minute.

There is a chance that students may get wet. Consider this when bringing personal items such as clothing, wallets, cameras and watches. Students should not bring electronic gear (CD players, electronic games) because of the water hazard and the need to hear instructions.

Keep in mind that the weather will start cooler in the morning and may change during the day. Students should consider bringing the following items in a daypack:

Photography

A RiverWatch Field Trip is very unique and often catches the interest of local news media. If a photographer or reporter accompanies the school, students should be respectful and thoughtful. The best photographs and quotes are obtained from helpful students being truly "natural". Reporters wish to see students "in action" and learning. RiverWatch staff may also take photographs from time to time for educational and promotional use.

Student Behavior

Students are expected to participate in paddling rafts, gathering science measurements and all related conversations. Although the general tone of the day is casual and fun, there are many times when careful and undivided attention is required, such as during the morning introduction, safety talk, science kit instruction, study site measurements, sewage plant tour, raft maneuvers and the end-of-day summary.

Students must exhibit good listening skills, be polite, be helpful and refrain from swearing. Students that do not meet the educational and safety expectations of the day will be left behind with supervision and/or sent back to the school by taxicab with no refund of fees. The school principal will follow-up with appropriate parent contact and disciplinary measures.

(Insert the local river map for your area as page six)