Science for Kids

Class in the Creek! The Boise River Experience 

Hey Kids! Put on your wading boots and grab a kick-net at the Morrison Knudsen Nature Center in Boise, Idaho! We'll meet you there and jump right into the Boise river to start exploring for cool bugs, fish and... oh wait, the rest is a surprise...

What is a Watershed Anyway? 

Wondering what a watershed is? Did you know that you use your watershed every day? Well... come on over and learn a bit more about where your water comes from, where it's going, common concerns, and all sorts of cool stuff about the water you use!  

Climate Change

Climate Change is the gradual shift in earth's overall temperature and weather patterns. Currently, the rapid rate at which the earth is warming is a question for concern and scientists are hard at work to find out how human activities might speed up the process, as well as what a warming climate may do to the environments we live in. If climate changes too quickly animal species will not have time to adapt! 

Check out the Forest Service Water Web Resources

National forests compose only 17% of the land in 8 Inland West states, but supply 62% of their water.  Bite-size facts like these explain how forests serve the water needs of people, plants and animals.  Watershed stewardship is more vital than ever as bark beetles, population growth, climate change and forest fires stress water resources.  People in 177 counties in 13 states rely on water that flows from Rocky Mountain national forests and feel these effects.  Learn more about Forest Service water research.

All About Fish

Have you ever wondered about all of those cool fish out in the river? Did you know that a lot of Idaho's fish swim over 700 miles all the way to the Pacific Ocean (this means that they are anadromous, which is a fancy word meaning that they spend part of their lives in ocean water) and then come back? Wait till you hear the rest of THE STORY! (bpa.gov) 

Welcome to the Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences for Kids, Class in the Creek HomePage! Here you can learn more about our program and discover the amazing treasures of your local river ecosystem! Watch our 2 minute introductory video.

Class in the Creek at the MK Nature Center begins with a pre-fieldtrip lesson on aquatic ecology in the school classroom. Upon class arrival to the Nature Center, children are guided to the creek to participate in hands-on, discovery learning. While splashing around and having fun in the river, kids are also collecting aquatic macroinvertebrates and fish, classifying and identifying insects and other organisms to observe the morphology, structure, function and adaptations of these organisms while also learning about indicators of water quality, food webs, the interrelatedness of aquatic habitats and the basic effects of climate change.

Many students who attend Class in the Creek activities tell us they have never gotten into a river and explored, while even more students profess that they aren’t even sure where the river’s water comes from! They begin the field trip thinking that it will be boring and “dumb” as one 5th grader admitted, and they leave with a profound excitement and interest in river ecosystems. A few initially skeptical children proclaimed that class in the creek “is so much cooler than I thought, and so much fun!”

What will you Find in the River 

After picking out a cool pair of boots to wear, we'll be ready to wade out into the river! Yes it's cold and yes, you will get a little wet... But never mind that, when there's so much cool stuff to be found. We kick up the rocks and catch the debris in our kick nets, while another teammate scavenges around for other aquatic treasures! Click here to see what we found! (Your kick-net won't come up with every one of these creatures, make a note of which insects, fish and plant life you find in different parts of the river).

River Facts You Outta Know!

Q. Where did all of that water come from?

Answer: That water is flowing as if it's going somewhere in a hurry! And it is! Up in the mountains, snow and rainfall trickle down steep mountain sides forming multiple small streams which cut into the earth and meet up with water that has seeped into the ground. Eventually these small streams meet up into a larger river, which again feed into even larger rivers.

Q. Where is all of that Water Going so Fast?

Answer: Eventually these streams and larger rivers finally make it to the ocean! This area of land from where the first river starts all the way to where it drains into the ocean is called the Columbia River Basin watershed.

This large watershed can be broken down into smaller ones.

Q. How can I tell if our river is clean?

Answer: There are multiple ways to tell if your local river is clean! One fun way is to examine the types of insects, and other life forms that are surviving in it. Many cannot tolerate polluted water, so if you see these, it's a good sign that the water is pretty clean! Use this bug identification card showing tolerant and intolerant species.

Q. How far is it to the Ocean?

Answer: From Boise, Idaho winding along the rivers it is approximately 700 miles of treacherous waters, manufacturing plants and about 11 dams to the Pacific Ocean.

Q. What types of fish are native to Idaho's Rivers?

There are many species of fish in our local rivers, however not all of them are native to Idaho (meaning people brought them in). This might seem harmless but native fish species have spent countless years adapting to the local environment. Non-native fish species have done the same in other parts of the country or world and might find it easier to thrive in Idaho which can seriously upset the delicate ecosystem that we live in. Click here for the MK Nature Center's Fish Identification Chart! 

A Watershed is an area of land where all of the water that is under it, or drains off of it, collects into the same place, usually a stream or river. Across the Rocky Mountains, within the U.S., water flows to three main destinations the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico or the Gulf of California. 

Fun Fact! The Mississippi River Basin is the 4th largest in the world! 

Precipitation 

Imagine you are standing at the base of the Rocky Mountains staring up at the mountain peaks in the distance. All of the rain that falls up on those steep mountains only has one way for it to go, downhill! Gravity pulls water downhill as fast as it can, taking the easiest path it can find. This runoff, including melted snow, eventually comes together to form small streams which meet other streams further downstream until a river is formed. Where is it going you may ask? Well some of it seeps into the ground to form groundwater, some is used by people and animals then recycled, but most of it flows until it reaches sea level, which is usually the ocean, but also may be a large lake or sea. 

Fun Challenge! On your next road trip through the Rockies keep an eye out for Continental Divide signs. This is a line where rain falling on either side flows to either the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans! 

The Health of a Watershed 

Throughout a river's journey to the ocean, it flows through different landscapes, from lush forests and deserts to farmland, cities, and manufacturing plants. Each of these environments has an impact on the river's health. In natural environments like forests, trees and other plants build up on the river banks, dropping leaves, logs and other organic debris into the water. This provides nutrients to feed other organisms as well as hiding places for creatures to live in. In the desert, a stream or spring may be the only water for miles around and have many different plants and animals that depend on it for survival. Because of this, water sources are usually one of the most diverse places on the landscape.

However, changes to our climate from human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels have begun to increase temperature around the world. Scientists predict that average air temperatures will rise between 4 and 12F by the end of this century. This is resulting in rising sea levels due to the polar ice caps beginning to melt, droughts to becoming more frequent and extreme, increased storm intensity, and extreme weather patterns. The changes to the climate and hydrologic cycles in many places are already having negative effects on stream habitats which are harmful to many aquatic species.    

One example already impacting some areas of the Rocky Mountains is that scientists have determined that wildfires are becoming more severe and widespread due to climate change. Some of the impacts on streams include more severe flooding events following fire events, increased stream temperatures due to the loss of trees which provide shade along the stream and poor water quality due to the ash and sediment washed downstream after the fire.  These impacts can have big impacts on the fish, frogs and other species that depend on the stream for their habitat.  

The rate at which the earth is warming is certainly concerning and scientists are hard at work to find out how human activities might speed up or slow down the process.  

But you can help solve the problem! By becoming interested in science and nature you can start to understand how the world around you works and maybe someday figure out ways to make it better! 

Welcome to the Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences for Kids' Climate Change page! Here you can learn more about Climate Change, its affects on your environment.

What is Climate Change?

If you were to average the earth's everyday weather in different countries and regions around the world over thousands of years of history, that in itself would give you an idea of the climate for each of those places! For instance, in Boise, Idaho we know that wintertime will bring freezing temperatures with ice and snow. Climate is the earth's overall long-term weather patterns, and it has always changed ever so slowly throughout the earth's history. So, what's the problem you may ask? Well, with overpopulation, urban development and carbon dioxide levels increasing in our atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels among other things, the planet is a bit different now-a-days. The rate at which the earth is warming is a question for concern and scientists are hard at work to find out how human activities might speed up the process, as well as what a warming climate may do to the environments we live in right now. If climate changes too quickly animal species will not have time to adapt!

How does it Effect Our Local Aquatic Environment?

Our warming planet has caused sea levels to rise, droughts to become more frequent and extreme, increased flooding, fires, and extreme weather patterns. These changes are impacting the hydrologic cycle and stream habitats as well. Scientists predict that temperatures will rise between 4 and 12 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of this century with devastating effects on salmon, trout, and other fish species.

A warming climate causes a chain-reaction of negative effects on stream habitats that many species cannot adapt to.

Brook Trout Non-native fish species like brook trout (picture above) can tolerate warmer water temperatures better than some native species such as bull and cutthroat trout. Climate change allows brook trout and other invasive species to take over native species’ habitats.

Wildfires

Wildfires may become more severe and widespread with climate change. If disturbances such as debris flows (burned forest material that are washed down stream by water) are extensive, they can limit the recovery of fish and their habitat.

Is there something I can do to help?

You may seem like only one person, but believe it or not, you can help to make our planet healthy! Some ideas to make for a healthier more sustainable planet and lifestyle are:

• Carpool or use public transportation
• Recycle, Recycle, Recycle
• Switch to Energy efficient light bulbs and appliances
• Don't waste! Instead of throwing things out, fix it or use it for something else. If you can, buy things that are less likely to break or become un-useful.
• Turn off lights and devices when you're not using them.
• Instead of using plastic or paper bags at the grocery store, invest in some reusable bags!
• Instead of driving to close destinations, ride your bike, walk or take the bus.
• Avoid buying bottled water, invest in a water filtration product, which will save you money in the long run!
• Plant trees to absorb greenhouse gases
• Ask about installing solar energy panels on your home!
• Eat locally grown foods! Instead of eating foods that used a ton of energy and fuel to ship them across the country or even the world, eat foods grown near you! This also helps your local economy!
• Educate yourself! This is probably one of the most important things that you can do! Learn as much as you can and share your knowledge with others!