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Hamilton Middle School students learn about water quality

Photo by Michael Erb Jesse Daubert, an environmental scientist with Pickering Associates, leads a group of Hamilton Middle School sixth-graders in a game to show them how chemicals and other hazards can dramatically affect life in a stream. The lesson was part of Sustainability Day, one of several programs the company does with the school during the spring semester.

PARKERSBURG — Students at Hamilton Middle School learned about water quality and sustainable resources Wednesday as part of a hands-on exercise with school Partner in Education Pickering Associates.

The event was part of Sustainability Day, one of several programs Pickering Associates does with the school during the spring semester.

Jesse Daubert, an environmental scientist with Pickering, focused on water quality and how changes to an environment can have a dramatic effect on the creatures that live in those habitats.

“It helps us bring them a bigger picture of the world outside of their school,” he said.

Students were given placards, each with the name and image of a different insect which lives in a stream environment, such as mayfly, stone fly and bloodworm. Students were given instructions on how to cross the gym floor based on their insect type, such as some having to twirl and others having to stop every so many steps to do a pushup.

A handful of other students were introduced to this environment, but had placards indicating spills or chemicals, such as storm water, sewage and oil spill. Those outside “stressors” would then tag out some of the insects as they tried to cross the gym floor.

The students saw the introduction of even a few stressors into an environment could dramatically reduce the number of insects which could survive, and as more chemicals were introduced, the numbers on all of the insects began to dwindle.

“As we add more and more pollutants to a stream, we’re going to have more and more of an impact,” Daubert said. “You’re going to hear a lot about pollution and water quality. I want you to think about the science behind things.”

Sarah Arnold, director of marketing and sales for Pickering Associates, said this marked the second Sustainability Day the company has held at the school. Last year’s event was canceled due to snow days and school testing schedules, but the prior year officials worked with students on a solar power project.

In a few weeks, Arnold said, Pickering Associates will hold a “Rain Gutter Regatta” at the school, challenging students to make wind-powered boats out of recycled materials.

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