Eastern Sierra Institute For Collaborative Education

STATEMENT OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS EDUCATION IN 2017, ESICES EASTERN SIERRA WATERSHED PROJECT PROVIDED SCIENCE EDUCATION BASED ON THE ECOLOGY OF INYO COUNTY TO STUDENTS IN GRADES 2, 4, 6, 7 AND 8 FROM SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT INYO COUNTY. FIELD TRIPS EMPHASIZED THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN WATER, PLANTS AND ANIMALS AND THE CENTRAL ROLE THAT WATER PLAYS TO THE AREA WHERE THEY LIVE, AND BY EXTENSION TO THE REST OF THE WORLD. STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN HANDS-ON SCIENCE ACTIVITIES AND DATA COLLECTION IN SMALL GROUPS LED BY ICSOS AND ESICE STAFF, AND TRAINED DOCENTS, ALLOWING EACH STUDENT THE CHANCE TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE. STUDENTS VISITED THE LOWER OWENS RIVER, LOCAL CREEKS, AND FISH SLOUGH. OLDER STUDENTS COLLECTED DATA TO DOCUMENT THE CHANGES ON THE LOWER OWENS RIVER THAT HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THE RE-WATERING IN 2006. STUDENTS BUILD UPON THEIR PREVIOUS VISITS AND KNOWLEDGE BY PARTICIPATING IN NEW ACTIVITIES AS THEY PROGRESS THROUGH GRADE LEVELS. THROUGH THE PROJECT, ESICE ALSO PROVIDES CLASSROOM MATERIALS TO HELP TEACHERS LEVERAGE THE INTEREST AND KNOWLEDGE STIMULATED BY OUTDOOR EDUCATION. THE EASTERN SIERRA WATERSHED PROJECT WAS CARRIED OUT THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION WITH THE INYO COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, THE BISHOP PAIUTE TRIBE, THE EASTERN SIERRA INTERPRETIVE ASSOCIATION, THE LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER AND THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT.