Great Lakes Watershed

Welcome!

Our website provides information about Cranbrook Institute of Science watershed education programs and events, resources for Great Lakes education, and ideas on how you can protect and conserve the Great Lakes.  Look beneath the Michigan map for our Water Blog.

Click for Tips on what you can do to help the Great Lakes!

Do you live in a watershed?  Find out here!

Below is a map of the schools our Water on the Go! program has visited (blue pins).  Green pins include images of rivers, lakes and streams from around the Great Lakes basin.

View Water on the Go! Programs in a larger map

Detroit River Water Festival

May 24, 2012 from 9am-2pm at the Detroit Riverfront!

The Detroit River Water Festival is a day-long educational event designed to help sixth-grade students learn about our most precious natural resource – clean, fresh water. Students from Detroit and Windsor area will come togther to learn about the Detroit River in this bi-national event.

This FREE program helps students appreciate the importance of water and how it impacts their daily lives. It also provides students with hands-on activities to help them understand water resource-related topics including ecosystems, social studies, the geosphere and the hydrologic cycle. Students will learn the central role water and the Detroit River play in the region’s economy and quality of life.

Classes will rotate through four different outdoor and indoor learning stations along the Detroit Riverfront. Indoor presentations will take place in the GM Learning Center inside the Renaissance Center. Lunch will be provided to students at Rivard Plaza along with educational entertainment from the live music of Joe Reilly.

Many partners have come together to make this event happen. We thank the following organizations for their contributions to the planning commitee as volunteers to support the design and execution of the festival.

Sponsors: DTE Energy Foundation, International Joint Commission, Cranbrook Institute of Science, GM, and the Detroit Wayne County Port Authority

Partners: Wayne State University, Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, Michigan Sea Grant, Alliance for the Great Lakes, Sierra Club Great Lakes Program, Friends of the Detroit River, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Detroit Public Schools, Friends of the Rouge, Wayne County Department of Public Services, University of Michigan Dearborn, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Wayne County Community College.

Educator Institute - Great Lakes Earth Partnership for Schools

Some are hyperactive. Some are distracted. Some are obese. Schools can improve both health and learning by reintroducing students to the natural world.  ~ Richard Louv

What:     SE MI Great Lakes Earth Partnership for Schools Educator Institute
Where:   Cranbrook Institute of Science and schools in Livonia and Northville
When:     June 25-29, 2012; 9am-3:30pm

Are you interested in engaging your students in outdoor activities that teach them science, math, and social studies skills? Attend the Southeast Michigan Great Lakes EPS Educator Institute to learn how to build a Rain Garden or Restore a Habitat at your school with proven curriculum offered by the University of Wisconsin- Madison.

The 5-day Educator Institute will train teachers on how to implement the Earth Partnership for Schools curriculum at their school. Local resources and programs will showcase how to connect school projects to regional conservation efforts. Guest speakers and field trips will demonstrate how schoolyard projects can contribute to the improved health and water quality of the Great Lakes.

Participants can earn three credits through the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Department of Curriculum and Instruction with tuition waived.

Teacher Applications are now being accepted; teams of at least two teachers per participating school are preferred. For more information and details about the course, please review the Application materials that can be downloaded at:
http://www.greatlakeswatershed.org/events.html

Completed Applications are due by June 8, 2012.

Great Lakes Maritime Teacher Institute

What: Explore the historical, economical and environmental aspects of Great Lakes shipping in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan! Participants will tour Cleveland Cliff’s Tilden Iron Ore Mine in Ishpeming, visit the Marquette Harbor, enjoy the Pictured Rocks National Park Boat Tour in Munising, visit the Whitefish Point Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Coast Guard’s Vessel Traffic Service, the Soo Locks & Valley Freighter Museum in Sault Ste Marie, Port Inland limestone quarry on L. Michigan, Seul Choix lighthouse and Fayette State Park’s historic iron smelting site. Participants will gain new knowledge and skills, classroom activities and resources that can be integrated into social studies, science, language arts, and math classes. The institute will explore the many facets of the shipping industry within the context of intermodal transportation, port safety, Great Lake shipping routes and global destinations. The institute will provide teachers with a foundation in maritime transportation history, current operations, and future career opportunities.

When:  July 16-20, 2012

Where:  Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan (traveling)

Fee:  $495, includes 2 graduate credits, most meals and 4 nights lodging.

Registration:  Application forms at http://wupcenter.mtu.edu/#institutes

Application deadline:  May 1, 2012

Submit applications to:

Joan Chadde, Institute Coordinator

Center for Science & Environmental Outreach

105 Dillman Hall—Michigan Tech University

1400 Townsend Dr., Houghton, MI  49931

Phone:  906-487-3341   FAX:  906-487-1620

Shipboard & Shoreline Science Workshop aboard the R/V Lake Guardian!

What:  Michigan Sea Grant Extension invites teachers in grades 4 – 10 to participate in a week-long professional development workshop aboard the U.S. EPA’s 180-foot research vessel (R/V) Lake Guardian on Lake Huron.  Learn about Great Lakes and marine sciences and forge lasting relationships with other educators and leading research scientists.  Educators work beside scientists, conducting research and stopping in ports for additional science experiences.  Participants also examine curricula and resources, and explore classroom activities related to the Great Lakes and our world ocean.  Stipends and graduate credit are available.

When:  July 8 – 14, 2012

Where:  The workshop, which will be conducted on Lake Huron, will begin and end in Port Huron, MI.

How:  To learn more about this incredible opportunity and to apply online, go to the COSEE Great Lakes website at http://coseegreatlakes.net/events/shipboard12 

Applications are due on/before April 30, 2012.

Be on the Cutting Edge with a Green, Earth-friendly Lawn

Healthy Lawn Care Workshop

Monday, March 19, 2012; 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Bloomfield Township Public Library

1099 Lone Pine Rd. @ Telegraph in Bloomfield Hills, MI

The featured speaker, Gary Eichen, Bioturf Manager at Mike's Tree Surgeon's Inc., has 20 years of lawn management experience.  He is the award-winner of the Michigan Green Industry Association's leadership award (2011),  member of the Healthy Lawns and Gardens Technical Advisory Committee, and a frequent speaker at professional events.  He will review soil health, mowing, fertility, watering, weed management and more.  Trouble-shooting tips will be provided.

A healthy lawn is thick and green....and works to hold soil in place, recycle clippings nutrients, and hold water.  Fast runoff and soil erosion are major sources of pollution to the Rouge River.  A healthy lawn helps minimize runoff while providing outdoor space for kids, pets, and more.

Table displays on easy composting, natural mulching, the Rouge Green Corridor, and frogs and toads of the Rouge River will be open at 6:00 pm.

The free program is sponsored by the Southeastern Oakland County Water Authority, in cooperation with the Bloomfield Township Public Library and area municipalities.  Advance registration is requested:  248-288-5150 (weekdays), on-line at www.btpl.org or via e-mail: LFDean@aol.com.

Cranbrook Offers Free Lecture on Aquatic Invasive Species

Life Will Never Be the Same: Aquatic Invasive Species in the Great Lakes

Jim Robinett, Senior Vice President, Conservation and Regulations, John G. Shedd Aquarium

Thursday, March 15, 2012

7:00-9:00 pm

Cranbrook Institute of Science, Bloomfield Hills, MI

Free Lecture!

The arrival of over 180 aquatic non-native species in the Great Lakes has been largely facilitated by the actions of humans. It has been suggested, for instance that as many as 80% of invasives have come into the Great Lakes through ocean-going vessels alone. Jim Robinett of the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, IL will discuss the breadth of invasive species diversity and the impact of some of those that have already become established. Robinett will also examine why the reality of invasive species is sobering, and the efforts to prevent further destruction by other species such as the Asian Carp.

 No registration required. Seating is available in the auditorium on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here for directions to the Institute.

Rouge Frog and Toad Survey Training Workshops

Friends of the Rouge is looking for volunteers interested in surveying Rouge wetlands for frogs and toads.

Sign up  to attend ONE of the below training workshops. Click here for more information and registration.  All materials are provided at the workshop, bring a pen or pencil and cash if you would like to purchase the Michigan Frog & Toads book for $15 (not required).

     * 3/3/2012 (Sat) 10am-12pm
       Plymouth Township Hall, 9955 N. Haggerty, Plymouth 48170

     * 3/6/2012 (Tues) 7-9pm
       Canton Summit on the Park, 46000 Summit Parkway, Canton 48188

     * 3/10/2012 (Sat) 10am-12pm
       Livonia Civic Center Library, 32777 Five Mile Road, Livonia 48154

     * 3/17/2012 (Sat) 10am-12pm
       Bloomfield Township Hall, 4200 Telegraph, Bloomfield 48302

**************************************************
Sally Petrella
Volunteer Monitoring Program Manager
Friends of the Rouge
4901 Evergreen Rd 220 ASC
Dearborn, MI 48128
313-792-9621
www.therouge.org

Promoting restoration and stewardship of the Rouge River since 1986.

Project WET Workshop for Teachers

Time:  9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012

Location: Belle Isle Nature Zoo conference room, Detroit, MI
Cost: $10 includes lunch & Project WET Activity Guide for Detroit teachers ($45 for teachers outside Detroit)
Credit:  0.5 SB-CEUs offered

Description:

Project WET   K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide for classroom and outdoor learning teaches students about our water resources.

* Interdisciplinary activities aligned to GLCEs.

* 64 outstanding activities are teacher-tested and classroom–ready

Addresses:  Physical & Chemical Characteristics, Water Quality & Conservation,  Water Management,  Water sheds & Earth Systems

Presenters:
Joan Chadde, Water Resources Specialist, Michigan Technological University
Kathleen Dougherty, Education Specialist, Oakland County Parks

**TO REGISTER for Project WET Workshop: Call Joan Chadde at 906.487.3341 or email: jchadde@mtu.edu .  Provide name, school, grades/subjects taught, email, phone

Native Alternatives to Invasive Trees and Shrubs Seminar

Thursday, February 2, 2012

7:00-9:00 PM

Costick Center,  28600 W. Eleven Mile Rd. Farmington Hills, MI 48336

Sponsored by SOCWA

Part I:
Restoring the Ecology of Heritage Park in Farmington Hills
• Woodland diversity – what does it mean in an urban setting? Ashlie Simons, Heritage Park Nature Center Supervisor
• Removing invasives and planting natives: Heritage Park experiences
-­ Randy Lovett, Supervisor of Parks, Farmington Hills

Part II:
Poster Session:
Community Projects for Rouge River Landscape Restoration -­‐ Table displays: native plants, rain gardens, invasive removal, environmental education, trees and mulching, and more

Part III:
FEATURED PRESENTATION:
Native Alternatives to Invasive Trees and Shrubs, -­‐ Tom O’Dell, Nichols Arboretum and Matthei Botanical Gardens

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:
Telephone SOCWA at 248-­288-­5150
or via e-­mail: LFDean@aol.com

Dan Wolz Clean Water Education Grant

The Michigan Water Environment Association is offering the Dan Wolz Clean Water Education Grant for teachers. This is a grant that pays for:

• a teacher to attend the MSTA conference for two years in a row (registration, sub costs, and hotel)
• as well as the MWEA State Conference
• and provides $1000.00 for a classroom project that has a focus on water environment issues!

Applications are due January 31, 2012.

Decisions will be made by February 7, 2012. (Winner will be required to attend the MSTA Award Luncheon on March 9 at the MSTA state Conference in Lansing).  The application and more information can be at:
http://www.msta-mich.org/downloads/publications/2011_DanWolz_application.pdf