QV Creekers – Environmental Science Internship

This after-school environmental science internship program is offered to Quaker Valley High School students grades 9 through 12.  Interns work in collaboration with environmental educators from Fern Hollow Nature Center, Creek Connections of Allegheny College and Little Sewickley Creek Watershed Association to biologically and chemically monitor the health of the Little Sewickley Creek throughout the school year.  Interns will receive training and skill development with water monitoring equipment and work alongside visiting environmental professionals in the fields of geology, herpetology, botany and ichthyology. Interns will also collaborate with other local groups to organize community events to benefit the creek.  Some of these events might include: tree planting & erosion control projects, invasive plant removal, reptile and amphibian surveys, creek clean-up events, fish species inventories, trout stocking etc…  Throughout the year, interns will work as a team to create and design a group research project.  They will set up an experiment, collect data and analyze results for this project.   The group will present the results of their project at an annual student research symposium sponsored by Creek Connections of Allegheny College.  Over 300 local students will attend this symposium from various schools throughout western, PA.  Students who complete this internship will receive ½ elective credit upon successful completion of the internship through Quaker Valley High School.

Take a look (and listen) to one of the projects being worked on by the creekers by clicking here. Story done by the Allegheny Front.