Aquatic Ecology:
Field Study at Gratiot Lake July 28 - August 3
Seven students spent five days at the Noblet Field Station and Gratiot Lake Preserve during Michigan Tech's Summer Youth Program Exploration: Aquatic Ecology at Gratiot Lake. Under the guidance of science teacher Brian Rajdl and counselor Kara Oikarenen, the high school students studied the chemistry and biological communities of the lake, the Little Gratiot River, Sucker Creek, and a beaver dam near the Bear Paw Path. Students collected and analyzed aquatic invertebrates. They learned how ecologists work. This rustic camping experience also offered opportunities for the group to learn to work together cooperatively.
The Jack and Rita Sandretto Scholarship was awarded to Jenna Murphy-Gast of Houghton High School to attend this field study program. Jenna enjoys studying about ecology and plans to continue science studies in high school and college. She wrote “…we looked at the water chemistry in and around Gratiot Lake. We took water samples and looked at the phytoplankton and invertebrates. This camp was without a doubt the highlight of my summer… I have never enjoyed learning quite as much as I did this week.”
This residential class is co-sponsored by Tech and GLC. Teacher salary for the exploration is subsidized by the GLC Education Fund.
