Washington Middle School Students Work to Become Missouri River Explorer Certified
Claire Jackson, Educational Coordinator for Missouri River Relief and AmeriCorps Member, made the trip from Columbia to work with Washington Middle School’s seventh-grade Intro to Conservation and eighth-grade Outdoor Academy classes to become "Missouri River Explorer" certified.
They collaborated about the history of human changes to the river and continued stewardship, examined Missouri fossils from the river, and were able to interact with a model of a pallid sturgeon.
All citizens can join the “Missouri River Explorer” program - adult and child. During the visit, students worked on the "Knowledgeable Ecologist" portion of their certification and badge.
"It seems like if we're going to fix the problems in the river, like litter, we have to start at the source,” said eighth-grade student Olivia Jensen.
"Stewardship of the river has always been important to the citizens of Washington from the time we first built our town here, and our children are fortunate to be a part of its continued care,” said WMS instructor Stefanie Virgen. "Missouri River Relief is an organization near and dear to my heart as a part of the Washington River Council that works with them on the river festival and clean-up every other year. I especially love watching my students be inspired by their hands-on learning whether in the classroom or on the river."
Click here for more information on Missouri River Relief.
Olivia Jensen with a fossil
Claire Jackson from Missouri River Relief and Carter Schulte
Aly Paule and Kathryn Figas
Dominic Lause and Blake Scheible
Kristen Schulte from Missouri River Relief