Stream Water Quality Program Assistant

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Holden Forests & Gardens Education department works with school districts as part of our Growing Students in Science (GSS) program. This community partnership builds interest and ability in the sciences and is a unique program to Northeast Ohio. Students in their classrooms can participate in the program for multiple years, starting in the second or third grades and completing the fifth-grade program. Each year students participate in two on-campus or virtual trips to The Holden Arboretum and one classroom visit by Holden staff. All programs align with Ohio’s science content standards.

The fifth-grade program is Stream Water Quality, which aims to educate students about the importance of monitoring and maintaining the health of the East Branch of the Chagrin River. Stream Water Quality Program Assistants will work with GSS Instructors to assist students in collecting water samples, recording data, and learning about the importance of water quality.

Responsibilities:

• Support staff and serve as a positive representative of Holden Forests & Gardens
• Follow supervisor instructions to complete tasks
• Prepare and organize materials, equipment, and resources for water quality testing sessions
• Participate in field trips or excursions to stream locations where water quality assessments occur
• Assist students in setting up equipment and conducting tests in the stream
• Help in the collection of water samples and the recording of relevant data, ensuring accuracy and completeness
• Assist with the cleaning, calibrating, and maintaining water quality testing equipment to ensure proper functioning during sessions
• Provide guidance and support to students participating in the program, helping them understand the significance of their actions and their impact on local ecosystems
• Assist in documenting the results of water quality assessments, ensuring that data is accurately recorded and stored for further analysis
• Communicate any questions, issues or concerns to staff in a timely manner
• Maintain the safety of people, plants, and animals
• Attend trainings, orientations, or clinics as required
• Additional related tasks as needed

• Contribute to the well-being of local ecosystems and raise awareness about the importance of water quality
• Provide hands-on experiential learning that supplements school science curriculum

• Enjoys working with and engaging children
• Passion for environmental conservation
• Interest in water quality monitoring
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to interact effectively with instructors, students, and fellow volunteers
• Ability to pay close attention to detail during data collection and recording
• Interest in plants, natural history and ecology is helpful
• Willingness to work collaboratively with a diverse group of individuals in both indoor and outdoor settings
• Demonstrate reliability, punctuality and ability to adapt if needed
• Demonstrate respect for the diversity of people and nature

• Program runs 9:30am-12:30pm. Students eat lunch during the time, so volunteers are encouraged to bring a bag lunch with them.
• Weekdays, primarily late April through May
• Volunteers should plan to take 1-2 shifts per week

• Outdoors rain or shine
• Volunteers will walk into the river with the water level getting as high as mid-calf
• River conditions can sometimes be hot and humid, or alternatively cold
• Mosquitoes, poison ivy, and stinging insects can be present at and near the river
• The ground is often wet
• Waterproof wading boots or old shoes are required