TU Members help middle school students explore nature

Bob Signorello shows the proper technique

For 3 days at the end of May, East Hills Middle School students got a chance to explore the Housenick Memorial Park in Bethlehem Township.  The event was planned by member Vicky Bastidas, who not only did the planning but also funded the trip with grant money she received.
You can read more about the event from the Lehigh Valley Live Article  here: LINK
Monocacy TU members Erik Broesicke and Bob Signorello also volunteered on one of the days to help with the in-stream portion of the day.  Nets were used to sample a small riffle section, and the captured specimens were placed in containers for the students to identify and observe.  After a brief discussion about what was collected, the students were given the chance to do some sampling of their own.  The amount of life that was collected in one 30' riffle was rather astounding.  Some of what was found:

1.  LOTS of caddisfly larva, and some emerging caddisfly pupa
2.  Cranefly larva
3.  Several sculpins
4.  1 or two species of crayfish

Bucket full of stuff

5.  several species of mayfly nymphs
6.  a few salamanders
7.  isopods
8.  scuds
9.  small minnows
10.  Midge larva

This was a great event, and the students really enjoyed sampling the stream.