The CVRB receives a Phénix de l'environnement 2004 award!
Last May 27th, the CVRB was awarded a Phénix de l'environnement in the category Education and Awarness for the Adopt a river project.  This program is available throughout the province of Quebec with the collaboration of  the Biosphere of Environment Canada.

 

 

 

Through Adopt a River, the students will be immersed in a science project for the benefit of water. Using basic scientific equipment, they characterise their river by studying physicochemical and bacteriological parameters. They also learn to collect and identify macro-invertebrates used as biological indicators water quality. Already, environmental and youth groups are taking on this project, joining a vast network of schools involved in monitoring their river.

 

This interactive project is aimed at students 10 to 15 years old. Thanks to the project’s activities they have the opportunity to take action for the protection and improvement of their environment.

 

Adopt a River’s participants become members of the EcoWatch Network, an initiative of the Biosphere,  Environment Canada.

To know more...
Started by the Biosphère (Environment Canada) and taken on by the Comité de valorisation de la Rivière Beauport (CVRB), this project can be undertaken by any groups located close to a freshwater river.

Youth in action!
Students will have to choose a goal and describe a site. After these steps, the project has two main components.

Macro-invertebrates
The first part of the project consists in collecting and identifying benthic macro-invertebrates, small animals without backbone (mostly insects), that live on the riverbed. The data collected, such as the variety and number of specimens from different groups, provides clues as to the health of the river.

Physicochemical and bacteriological analyses
The second part of the project are the physicochemical and bacteriological analyses of the water. The parameters investigated include turbidity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, hardness, and the presence of coliform bacteria. Using the data we have gathered, we can diagnose the health of the river.

Writing the report
After the analyses, writing a report and posting it on the Internet mean that the results can be communicated to the rest of the world. Schools from Europe, Australia and the United States are participating in similar projects (RiverWatch, Adopt-a-Stream, WaterWatch,…)

 

We think about teachers too!
Adopt a River is the perfect way to integrate several curriculum topics (life sciences, ecology, chemistry, computer science, French/English, etc.) into a stimulating, hands-on project.

 

The CVRB with the collaboration of different partners, including schools which are participating in the project, has produced educative material intended for teachers.

 

A Participation Guide proposing learning activities for preparing students for the field trips, and a Teacher’s Guide including administrative and logistical planning are available.

 

In addition, teacher training sessions and scientific help during the field trips are offered by the CVRB.

 

Regional coordinators
Regional coordinators are organizations devoted to the conservation of their respective river ecosystems, environmental education, and community involvement. They are volunteering to ensure youth in their area have the chance to participate in this high quality bio-monitoring project.
 
Regional co-ordinators are : Canadian Museum of Nature for Eastern Ontario and Outaouais in Québec, the Alma-Jonquière ZIP (Area of Prime Concern) Committee for the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, the Seigneuries ZIP for Lanaudière and Montérégie North, the Sud-de-l'Estuaire ZIP for the Bas-St-Laurent, the Société de conservation et d'aménagement du bassin de la rivière Châteauguay for Montérégie South,  the Comité pour la restauration du Marais de Kingsbury (MAKI) for the Richmond area, the CHARMES group in Sherbrooke and Éco-nature for the Laval area.