Young campers from the Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center in Waynesville were given a hands-on lesson about water quality in rivers at the Oconaluftee Islands Park in Cherokee. Haywood Waterways Association partnered with the Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River (WATR) to teach the kids how to catch aquatic creatures.

Kids identified insects in the trays, cups, and buckets and learned how each insects indicated something significant about the water quality.

“When the kids learn about water, it adds another holistic academic component to our summer programming, which ups its value to the students,” said Lin Forney, director of the Pigeon Development Center. “After learning how pollution affects water quality and how important it is to use this resource wisely, the campers had a better idea of why we need to preserve and protect our water sources.”

For more information on the Kids in the Creek or to organize water quality education programs for your group, call 828.631.2823 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..