What's in your water? Tahlequah and Broken Arrow students find out in NSU science camp

Science class looked a little different this week for students from Tahlequah and Broken Arrow. Instead of sitting in a classroom, they pulled on waders and stepped into the creek.

“I teach chemistry for most of my day job,” said Dr. Nathaniel Green, Associate Professor at Northeastern State University.

On Wednesday, Dr. Green led 24 middle schoolers through trails and streams at Oxley Nature Center as part of NSU’s Get Green for Blue camp.

“There’s a lot of cool things we do in the lab, but there’s just nothing like putting on waders and getting out here in the water,” Green said.

The goal: show Tahlequah and Broken Arrow students what science looks like outside.

“Right now, we’re going to collect water samples and test them to basically see what I learned in the class is how polluted the water is,” said 8th grader Zo’koria Clanton.

The students are studying turbidity, temperature, and macroinvertebrates, and learning why clean water matters.

“If there’s polluted water and deer come and drink it, then they’re going to get sick themselves… and it’s going to be very hard to fix it back in place,” said Clanton.

Green said the camp also helps students picture themselves as future scientists.

“We don’t get kids outside enough these days, right?” he said. “There’s lots of different ways to do science… and a lot of it’s really messy and muddy and doesn’t necessarily feel like science.”

“Yesterday I caught a bunch of dragonfly larvae, and I want to catch some more,” said 8th grader Anna Farines. 

Even if students don’t go into science, Green said the experience builds respect for the environment.

“Even if they don’t choose a career in field ecology, they get a better sense of what it means to be good stewards of this place.”

The NSU camp has been funded by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education every year since 2010.

“I mean, the Oxley Nature Center is a beautiful place, and it’s a great way to remind students that this is a space that deserves protecting.”

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