The Kansas Wetlands Education Center (KWEC), Water Resources Department with the City of Hays, Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and the Environment (KCARE), and K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District (Barton and Ellis Counties) will be leading a "Let's Talk Water Science Camp" for students that have completed 7th-9th grades.
Students will get in the water (waders will be provided by KWEC) and will test the water quality, collecting data on alkalinity, bacteria, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, pH, phosphates, temperature, and turbidity. We will also sample for aquatic invertebrates and use them to determine water quality.
Day 1 (June 9) will be spent at Frontier Park in Hays. Water testing will occur in Big Creek. In the afternoon, campers will tour the City of Hays Wastewater Treatment Plant. The goal of the treatment plant is to get the water "clean enough" to release back into Big Creek. In any given year, approximately 25% of the treated water is beneficially used as irrigation water for multiple outdoor recreation facilities.
Day 2 (June 10) will be spent at Cheyenne Bottoms (the largest wetland complex in the interior of the United States) and at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center near Great Bend. Students will repeat water quality tests and invertebrate sampling, this time in a wetland, and compare the results from the previous day. Benefits and functions of wetlands will be studied. The day will include a driving tour of the wetlands in search of wildlife.
The 4-H Water Ambassador team will supplement daily activities with hands-on and interactive projects.
Cost of the camp is FREE and transportation from Great Bend to Hays and Hays to Great Bend will be provided. Campers need to provide a sack lunch and reusable water bottle for each day of camp; snacks will be provided.
Registration is limited to 12 : 6 campers from Ellis County and 6 campers from Barton County. Registration deadline May 27. Register at: https://forms.gle/cqaCp862fH4QcP9p9
Parent Waiver and Release Forms will be emailed to parents in late May.
Let's Talk Water Science Camp