McLeansboro- Students at Hamilton County High School are taking their science classes outdoors. Ideas formed in the classroom are being put to the test in the field. Advanced Biology at the Bear Creek Arboretum may be a fun class, but its also educational. Biology Teacher Fred Vallowe says the Arboretum allows his classes to see what research is really like, however dirty and muddy that may be.
Vallowe says "this particular class is monitoring the hydrology and wildlife of the creek and because of the drought its turned into understanding how low water conditions change dramatically the habitat in which organisms have to live."
This year the creek bed is nearly dry, with just a few isolated pools of stagnant water left. Vallowe says his students must figure out what factors contribute to the lack of wildlife.
Michael Nice says he loves coming out to the Arboretum for class, because it tests his knowledge.
Nice says "when there's no water source, there's not going to be other larger animals coming to drink, there's less oxygen for the fish to thrive in and other small bugs. When there's less water, there's less oxygen and less overall nutrients for everything to survive."
The students can't just make that assumption and get a grade, they have to have data to back it up.
Junior Presley Kerans says "We're testing the water for PH, phosphates, and nitrates. just seeing how the balance is out here."
Students are also trying to see what conditions promote the evaporation of the few pools that are left. That's where air temperature and wind speed readings come in.
"Even when there are things that don't work right, when your working in biological systems, what do you know about how its supposed to work, so you are learning whatever happens" Vallowe says.
The Bear Creek Arboretum was created in 2004, behind the Hamilton County High School.