Overview   |   Muddy Creek Canoe Trip   |   Marsh Explorations

Part B: Marsh Exploration

With Marsh Explorations students go on a two-mile hike through forest and marsh at SERC. Several topics are discussed such as nutrient pollution, field research, watershed topography, and marsh ages. The following activities take place along the hike:

• Weather testing and a discussion about wetland water cycles
• Nutrient testing and a discussion about the nitrogen and phosphorous cycles
• GIS map analysis of the local watershed
• Dichotomous key identification of hydrophytes
• Student planning of field research

If you combine Marsh Explorations with its aquatic partner, the Muddy Creek Canoe Trip, students will also test the water of Muddy creek for pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity and discuss the relationship these variables have to each other and to the organisms that thrive in Muddy Creek.

Scheduling

To schedule a field trip, contact Jane Holly at SERC's Education Department for available dates or use our "request for registration" form. After we receive the form, education staff will contact you to discuss dates and confirm your field trip. You will need about 2-3 hours to complete Marsh Explorations. Combined with the Muddy Creek Canoe Trip, the complete Wetland Ecology Program can be a full-day program.

At least one teacher/leader is required to chaperon the participants.

Marsh Explorations is $10.00 per person. Please pay when you arrive.


Maryland Content Standards
1.0 Skills and Processes: 1.12.1, 1.12.2, 1.12.3, 1.12.5, 1.12.11, 1.12.14, 1.12.16
2.0 Earth/Space Science: 2.8.4, 2.12.11
3.0 Life Science: 3.8.3, 3.12.8, 3.8.10, 3.8.11, 3.12.12
4.0 Chemistry: 4.8.4, 4.12.6
6.0 Environmental Science: 6.12.1, 6.12.2, 6.12.4, 6.12.5, 6.8.6

Virginia Standards of Learning
Grade Six: 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.9
Life Science: LS.1, LS.4, LS.5, LS.6, LS.7, LS.8, LS.9, LS.10, LS.11, LS.12
Physical Science: PS.1, PS.2, PS.4, PS.5, PS.7
Earth Science: ES.1, ES.2, ES.3, ES.5, ES.7, ES.9, ES.11, ES.13
Biology: BIO.1, BIO.2, BIO.3, BIO.5, BIO.7, BIO.9
Chemistry: CH.1, CH.3, CH.4, CH.5
Physics: PH.1, PH.3, PH.7