VINS LAUNCHES NEW TEEN RIVER STEWARDS PROGRAM

Woodstock, VT - The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) has announced that it is hosting a Teen River Stewards Program (TRS) this winter and spring with funding from the A.D. Henderson Foundation. Participants will work with VINS educators and watershed specialists to learn river ecology, develop skills in water quality assessment, and create a project in their community that enhances watershed health while promoting community well-being. TRS students will also help to organize and facilitate a Student Watershed Congress on May 20, 2005 at the VINS Nature Center in Quechee, Vermont.

VINS is currently seeking underwriters for next year‚s TRS program. For more information on TRS, please contact Abby Terpstra, Teen River Stewards Facilitator at VINS, at (802) 229-6206 or aterpstra@vinsweb.org.

Kim Jensen, VINS Teen River Stewards Coordinator, helps student Danielle Mapes identify some aquatic invertebrates (insects and other small creatures).

TRS student Natasha Wood uses a dissecting scope to get a close-up look at a variety of aquatic insects while VINS educator, Lisa Purcell looks on.

TRS student Noah Detzer sorts a river sample to find aquatic invertebrates. The profile of organisms he finds will help to determine that river's water quality.