Blog
Browse this page for blog postings related to middle- and high-school-teacher Adventure Learning workshops taking place across Idaho. Use the widgets to the right (or at bottom of this page, for smaller devices) to filter blog posts.
Connection to Boise Watershed
Moving to Boise Idaho has transported me far from my native home of Harpswell, Maine- an island chain off the coast of Brunswick. Ironically, I began teaching Oceanography at Rocky Mountain High School last year. I guess my upbringing prepared me for this job more than most Idahoans but there was still a great deal more to learn! Most upsetting was discovering the terrible condition our oceans are in and the real threat to marine life and ultimately mankind. It suddenly became very important for me to communicate to my inland students how their lives personally are efffected by the... more
What ecosystem service do I think is has the most value and why?
There are so many ecosystem services available to us it is difficult to choose and they are very much connected but I chose recreation as the most important since I love to fly fish. This has allowed me many hours of fun with my boys, friends, and just myself. Another service that is directly tied to this is clean water. Without it, there isn't much hope for a viable fishery, I guess I am not really answering the question with one service but oh well.
So now, here is the question pose to you. Can you tell me what is the most important ecosystem service to you?
Boise River Watershed - Lake Lowell
Lake Lowell is a part of the Boise River Watershed. It is near my home in Nampa, Idaho and it plays a big part in life in Nampa. Not only does it supply water for recreational activities, but it is a main source of irrigation to the farms and neighborhoods. The activities enjoyed at Lake Lowell include swimming, fishing, hunting, and boating. It is also a wildlife refuge so birding and observing deer and other wildlife are fun activities there, too. There are parks on both the Nampa and Caldwell side that have picnic areas and even a disc golf course. Lake Lowell is a man... more
Fabulous Photosynthesis
Ecosystem services are plentiful, yet delicate, and very important. Which is most important is a very difficult question to answer..... But, at this moment, I am finding PHOTOSYNTHESIS as the most important service because it benefits all biotic factors in all ecosystems. This "magical" process is dependent upon other services such as clean water, healthy air quality and beautiful sunlight and ultimately services every living organism with the energy they need to survive. The products of photosynthesis are oxygen and chemical energy called glucose. These products fuel living things and... more
It's clear to me!
What ecosystem service do you value the most in my watershed? Why? Clean water is my final answer. At first, I had responded that recreation was my answer. However, after sharing with my partner, I changed my mind. Without clean water, all aspects would be affected if our waters are not clean. As simple as drinking water, as I have experienced with my son's backpacking experience last summer, filtering our drinking water, to kayaking and fishing the Cascade Lake - smelling the rotten dead fish and algae. Hiking to mountain lakes and seeing the crystal clear water is now even more... more
My Connection to the Boise River WaterShed
The question I am answering today is "how are you connected to the Boise River WaterShed?", and my answer is more broad. Since I have lived in Idaho my entire life, but most of it in the Boise area, I have had the Boise River around since I was a child. At one point we moved and the river was literally in my backyard! Since I learned to swim at the age of 2, I have been a water bug my entire life and have done many different activities in the Boise River such as tubing, rafting, kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, or enjoying the sound of the water with just my feet... more