SE Valley Times

Griffin Freburg, an eighth grader from Thunderbolt Middle School, found a new appreciation for science during a recent field trip to the Colorado River. This excursion was part of the Kids on the Colorado River Project, which involved around 375 middle school students from the Lake Havasu Unified School District. The project was organized by ASU at Lake Havasu to provide hands-on outdoor lessons.

Jeanette Nangreave, an assistant research professional and instructor at ASU at Lake Havasu, explained the project's goal: “The Kids on the Colorado education project hopes to inspire the next generation of civic and environmental stewards of our community and state through hands-on outdoor lessons just feet away from the lake.”

Students participated in various educational experiences led by volunteers from local, state, and federal agencies. These activities covered topics such as natural resource management, ecology, and soil quality. Mike Peters, a general contractor and co-founder of the event, emphasized his motivation for starting this initiative after noticing that many young residents were not engaging with the local environment.

Peters recalled his own experiences growing up near Lake Havasu: “I grew up on this lake, camped and slept on the beaches... We watched monsoons, learned about the water, sand and wildlife.” He discovered that few children today take advantage of these opportunities.

Dan Roddy from Lake Havasu State Park supported the project early on. He saw it as a chance to engage students before they start considering careers: “Once students hit high school age... But at the middle school level, you can still spark a student’s interest.”

ASU graduate Jenni Burdick shared her experience with students during guided tours. She expressed her belief in teaching youth about their environment: “They tend to get more hands-on learning when they’re out in the wilderness.”

Kerrie Anne Loyd also contributed by focusing on desert ecology. She noted that middle school students are enthusiastic learners who ask candid questions.

Ben Charette, a social studies teacher at Thunderbolt Middle School, observed that this experience helped students understand their surroundings better than classroom discussions alone could.

The project provided ASU undergraduates with valuable teaching experience as well. Lauren Haugen reflected on her participation: “This event afforded me an opportunity to gain some real education teaching experience because it’s a field I want to go into.”

Despite differing career interests among participants like Mia Hernandez—who aims to become a cosmetologist—the field trip offered valuable insights into nature's significance.