Category Archive
The following is a list of all entries from the Water Education category.
Aqua Squad Dives into Exhibit Design
This week Aqua Squad is working on their photography exhibition! Painting, mounting labels and organizing their photographs takes a lot of effort–but it’s fun! Hopefully this exhibit will bring the community together to talk about the important issue of water.
Join us October 18th at 6 PM for refreshments, great photography and a chance to find out what you can do to help our River. Check out what we’re up to below.
Fond memories of San Diego
Here’s a quick video Andreas took of Dr. Ryder revealing the Frozen Zoo in San Diego!
Aqua Squad is gearing up to present to the community about our water issues! Join us at Eco Fair on October 13th to learn about what YOU can do to save San Angelo’s water.
Also, join us October 13th at Eco Fair at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (1 Love Street) to find out what you can do to save San Angelo water!
AND, don’t forget our art exhibition opening on October 18th at 6 PM. The show is called Crisis in the Concho, and it features all the photos we took over the summer.
See you soon!
Aqua Squad
Filtration Ponds a big hit in Drought Cities by Joe Navarro
San Diego, California and San Angelo, Texas are alike in certain ways. For example, the San Diego Safari Park has filtration ponds just like the ones we have behind the Museum of Fine Arts. Filtration ponds uses plants to absorb bacteria and nutrients out of the water. When bacteria and nutrinets are left in the water, algae grows taking oxygen from the water. When the algae dies, the decomposers eat it and then reproduce. They take even more oxygen from the water until finally water creatures start dying. Grants funded the building of the filtration ponds at the Safari Park. These ponds helped move water creatures around the pond system. The water got cleaner by using the filtration ponds. The old system sent the water to the top of a hill and as it slid down the bacteria and nutrients got trapped in the ground plants. Way to go San Diego for improving your water quality! They also have two mini reserviors where the water is saved just like our three reserviors; Twin Buttes, O.C. Fisher, and Lake Nasworthy. Creatures live in and around the reserviors year around such as pelicans and deer. The city of San Diego has the San Diego River running through it just like San Angelo has the Concho River running through it. They’re even going through a drought, like us, and they have to conserve their precious natural
This filtration pond helps to keep the water clean from bacteria and nutrients.
resource…water. For more information on how to conserve water tune in for more Aqua Squad updates.
Bring the River Back!
This is Julia, Dakota and Diamond. Today we followed the San Diego River with Richard from the River Park Foundation. We started at Missions Trails Park and learned about riparian habitats, which are the plants and animals that live by the river. We also saw a really cool snake at the visitors center, his name was Curtis. We learned that the native sage and buckwheat are important to maintain a healthy ecosystem. Next Richard told us about the Old Mission Dam, which was finished in 1816. Walking across the dam made us feel like we were going through time when Indians worked hard to get this built for the mission. Next we visited some community preserves with nature trails and native plants. Richard told us to engage the community because when the community cares, change happens! And this is how we can bring the river back. This inspired us to think about our own Concho River this way.
Lastly we ended at the dog beach at Ocean Beach where the river meets the ocean. Can you believe that only 5% of the coastal wetlands remain? They serve as nurseries for many fish, insects, and native plants. They also have endangered plant species such as the Birds Beak… which feels like a cotton swab but looks like needles!
Following the San Diego River made us realize that we can make saving the river a really cool thing to do.
To top off our day we played at La Jolla Beach the rest of the day. This was definitely different than West Texas!
A man on the Old Mission Dam. This was built in 1816!
Julia was attacked from above by this owl! (Just kidding, it was in the Visitor’s Center)
Here is a patch of Birds Beak on the dunes where the river meets the ocean…an endangered plant!
At La Jolla Beach. Andreas likes jumping rope with sea weed!
We buried Diamond. (she deserved it!)
ZOO in One!
That means 2 in one at the San Diego Zoo because saving species also means saving their habitats. WATER is in every habitat.
This is John, Henry, and Andreas and were going to let you know what we experienced at the San Diego Zoo.
After leaving the Museum of Photographic Arts we headed to the San Diego Zoo where we met Judi who told us a little about the Zoo and took us to our private tour with Wendy. Wendy took us to look at all the animals and even let us feed the camels. One big highlight of the day was meeting Doug Myers, Director of the San Diego Zoo. We were struck by how much he cared about not just the zoo but also the environment. It was cool to find out how much we had in common.
We saw pandas! Zoo staff think that Yanzi may be pregnant!
This is a picture of an awesome a polar bear that we saw on our private tour. This photo was taken by Andreas.
We had a great time, learned a lot, and even got to share our water conservation ideas with a goofy zebra named Robert. Check it out!
On the Hunt for Great Photographs
Hi there! This is Kirstin and Ashley here to tell you about our visit to the Museum of Photographic Arts. While there we got lots of ideas about how to use photography to communicate our message about water conservation.
We took a photographic scavenger hunt around Balboa Park to practice techniques to improve our photographs. Below are some of the best photos from our hunt.
A Worm’s Eye View
Taking a photo from a worm’s eye view gives the audience the feeling that something is bigger and more important than the viewer.
A Bird’s Eye View
A bird’s eye view makes people feel as if they are larger and more important than what the photograph portrays.
The Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is when you move the camera so the subject is off center by either 1 or 2 thirds. This helps the audience focus on one subject while also showing how the background ties to the main subject of the photo.
Line & Shape
This photo uses line and shape to help lead your eye around the composition.
Each of these techniques enhances our ability to communicate successfully through photography. This is definitely going to help us make Crisis in the Cocho (our photography exhibit opening in October) a great show!
Our new friend James showing us how to print our photos in MOPA’s amazing library.
So if you are ever in San Diego we would definitely recommend going to the Museum of Photographic Arts. And thank you to James for being a wonderful tour guide!
Saving the Sailing Seas with Exhibit Design
Think these are real surgeons? Nope! They are just wax figures showing what life was like on the USS Midway.
Welcome aboard the USS Midway Museum! This is Gillian and Joe here to tell you about some of the cool things we saw there.
The above picture taken by Gillian is one of the many good examples of how this museum showed what life was like on the USS Midway.There was also an audio tour which gave facts and details about rooms and areas in the carrier. It was like listening to a book about the ship. Each number on the tour was another chapter in the story.We found out the aircraft carrier didn’t just float on water, but it had to use water to run. Here is a good site to see pictures of the USS Midway’s boiler room. http://www.midwaysailor.com/frankday/engineroom.html
The museum also had hands-on activities. We really liked the station where you had to figure out how to use the ship’s energy in the best way. This taught us that not everything is important and you must have your priorities straight to complete your mission. As members of Aqua Squad our mission is to educate the public about water issues–especially how to conserve and save it. And we will not stop fighting until we complete our mission! Hopefully our photo exhibit will be as organized as the exhibits at the USS Midway…
Grass Clippings… The Real Story…
When is maintaining our lawns bad for our river? Believe it or not yard clippings such as grass and leaves are harmful to the environment. When grass is cut and blown into the street rains wash them into waterways such as rivers, lakes, and ponds. After that, the river’s decomposers eat and grow, stealing more and more oxygen from the river which eventually leads to the ecosystem’s fall.
DOING this:
- Leave them on your lawn. Grass clipping serve as a natural fertilizer, which saves you time and money.
- Put them in biodegradable bags or a cardboard box and send them to the landfill
- Put them in your compost bin
And NOT that:
- Blow grass clippings onto the street
- Burn them
- Throw them away in a plastic bag
Apply for Aqua Squad!
Are you a student in the San Angelo Independent School District and going into 7th or 8th grade next year (2012-2013 school year)?
Have you heard a lot about water issues in San Angelo lately?
Are you creative? Do you love to help?
Then you should apply for Aqua Squad!
Download the application to get started: AquaSquadApplication2012
Selected students will travel to San Diego to learn about photography and H20 issues. Your final challenge is to create a photography exhibit about water in San Angelo and beyond!
Below are some of the fun things Aqua Squad did last year. Join the fun–and become part of the solution to our water problems! To find out more, follow this link: https://artmuseumscience.wordpress.com/aqua-squad/
Gallons and gallons of trees?
With the holidays approaching, the Center for Creative Energy is getting into the spirit. It’s a festive time of year, and the UCRA Water Education Center in San Angelo, Texas is buzzing with cheer. Here’s why:
1. Art/Science Fusion final show on December 15th! We just got some great press in the San Angelo Standard Times, so we know we’re going to see a crowd. Check it out! Below are some photos from the fall programs.
Students talking about lithographs from SAMFA's Early Texas Art collection.
Christy shows some desert survivors during her session about adaptation.
Students learn to create linoleum prints with Bekah in the Education Studio.
2. Aqua Squad’s exhibit ideas are coming together in physical form! After cleaning out over 100 gallon jugs from the local recycling center (Dr. Christy Youker gets an enormous HIGH FIVE for that heroic feat–some of those jugs were pretty rancid), Bekah and Megan built two gallon trees (with the help of Emily) to represent how much water most households use per day. Aqua Squad came up with this idea and now it’s real–just in time for the holiday season. Click here to see how Aqua Squad came up with this great idea. The official “tree lighting” will be during the Art/Science Fusion final show. Come back after Thursday to see a video of the tree lighting.
A work in progress. Soon it will have lights and ornaments with important water usage factoids.
What are they building in there? Something pretty AWESOME!
Camp Odyssey: Where the Water Flows!
Where did the summer go? Camp Odyssey came and went so fast – it is already September and we hadn’t even let you know how much fun we had at this incredible week-long camp! Our mission: to explore the workings of our water system and then put it together in an amazingly creative way on how it inspired us.
Hannah looking for critters on the South Concho
Our journey began that first (very HOT!) week in August at Fort Concho Elementary where 40 enthusiastic campers met to take on the trek through San Angelo’s water system. With journals in hand, and with the guidance of our fearless SAISD teacher-leaders, we began at the South Concho River in Christoval where we calculated flow and investigated macroinvertebrates (water insects!) in their different larval stages to determine water quality. We even came across a water snake that wasn’t so happy to see us!
This is what was left of O.C. Fisher Reservoir.
The next two stops were the Water Treatment Plant and the Wastewater Treatment Plant where we learned how we get our water clean enough to drink and then what happens to it once it goes down the sink. Talk about coming full-circle! We literally watched sewer water come in through pipes and get treated – mostly by just keeping the natural balance of microorganisms in check. It was definitely a smelly experience! We found a cool video on how water gets treated: http://youtu.be/Ud-SbwmqJ7c
The final day was when the campers put it all together and were ready to tell the public what they gained from this experience. With the help of Bekah from the Art Museum, Cami with the San Angelo Civic Ballet, our awesome expert-teachers and UCRA staff, the products were awe-inspiring! From an interpretive dance of the wastewater system, murals of our lakes, and a 3D Model of our water system, the campers had much to show off in our performance. We even had a hanging tumbleweed with perfectly placed dead fish to get our point across of our water problems!
Henry shows us the compost from the Wastewater Plant. The water and the "sludge" are recycled! Amazing!
All we have to say about Camp Odyssey is “Whoa!! Now that was a journey!” We sure hope you come along next summer….
What a nice vision for our lakes! This is one of the murals the campers created.
Aqua Squad: ENGAGE!
Wow! It has been one amazing summer–I can’t believe it’s the middle of September already!
Aqua Squad has been out and about the community pitching their exhibition and education kit design ideas, and engaging the public with local water issues. So far they’ve presented to the San Angelo City Council and the board and director of the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (SAMFA), and they made a special appearance at the Girl Scout’s Race on the River just today. Below is a video of Emily and Anyssa demonstrating how non-point source pollution affects our water supply during the river race:
Check back to see Aqua Squad racing canoes. It was pretty epic!
Aqua Squad will also present to the boards of the Upper Colorado River Authority and San Angelo Independent School District in the upcoming weeks. They will also head up an awesome hands-on station and art installation at the Eco Fair Family Day on October 8 at SAMFA. (Bring a plastic gallon jug to the event if you want to be part of the action)!
Curious about their exhibition ideas and loan kits? So far, all I will say is that they involve pirate games, toilets, and lots of creativity and water facts! Below are the inspiration boards Aqua Squad created to share their ideas.
Good Design! Emily and Anyssa created a board about the elements and principles of design using recycled materials. They also changed the old fashioned color wheel into a color wave!
Inspiration from Chicago! Anne Marie, Ruby, and Will designed a board to highlight the most inspirational museums in Chicago. The font in all three inspiration boards came from their experience marking storm drains this summer with the UCRA. See the gallery below for pictures of that.
Jugs and jugs and jugs! Addison and Ethan designed this board to show how much water we use, but also how much waste we throw into our rivers. Later this board will be revamped into an awesome exhibition component and educational loan kit for schools! Note Will being held hostage by a pirate with a microphone in the upper corner. Awesome!
Okay, okay–I’ll give you more details about their exhibition and educational resource ideas! The educational loan kit is a pirate themed board game about watersheds that will be take middle school students on a hunt for clean water. The jugs and toilets are part of an exhibit showing how much water we use daily (about 80 gallons!) and what we can do to use less. Both are going to be AWESOME!
The final products will be developed within the next few months, so be sure to check back on their progress. All of the projects were inspired by their experiences in Chicago, their love of water, and their dedication to the future of the San Angelo community. Drought may be lingering, but with these creative kids on the task of educating the public about water conservation and quality, I’m hopeful that this community will continue to grow and thrive as it invents new solutions to solve the water crisis.
To sum up the Summer, here’s a gallery of the Chicago trip and all of the awesome things Aqua Squad did do far! Enjoy!
Flood and Drought: Art Science Fusion gets Serious (but we’re still fun!)
This fall’s Art/Science Fusion couldn’t be more timely for West Texas, or serious! Just today, USA Today featured San Angelo in a front page story about one of the worst droughts in Texas history. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the 1936 Flood, during which the Concho River took out 12 buildings downtown and destroyed 300 homes!
The theme for Art/Science Fusion is Flood and Drought: With and Without Water in West Texas. The goal is to get 2nd graders thinking about the critical role water plays in everyday life, and how we in San Angelo can work to respect and conserve this precious and powerful resource. They will take a tour of the West Texas collection at SAMFA with Megan, learn about desert adaptation with Christy at the UCRA, and then make prints about our water situation with Bekah in the Education Studio. Below is a sneak preview of some of the art the 2nd graders will see, and some useful links related to the program.
A great story from the USA today about the drought in Texas: USA Today
A nice resource about plants that thrive in the desert. What can we learn from them? Plants
The National Weather Service’s report on the 1936 Flood in San Angelo: Flood
An interactive site about Early Texas Art. Be sure to click the link on the left to see the unique regions of Texas! Texas Art
Check back for a full curriculum, and also be sure to see Old Fort Concho’s new exhibition on the 1936 Flood opening on Saturday, September 17th (the actual anniversary)!
Although visiting the Fort for the flood exhibition isn’t possible during the Art/Science Fusion sessions, we STRONGLY encourage your class or school to take a trip over to check out this timely exhibition either after one of your Art/Science Fusion sessions or later in the year. It would be a great way to add some local history into your curriculum. We’ll be touching on Texas history a bit, but nobody can do it like Bob and his team of educators next door! I will officially say the more interdisciplinary the better. Plus I love the Fort–they have good history and a couple of ADORABLE mules!
See you soon!
A Tale of Two Rivers
You know, it’s not everyday, you get to wake up in a city where there are so many amazing things to do! Chicago isn’t just a place where millions of people live, it also attracts many tourists for the beauty and architecture. I think it’s really cool to see the diversity of people in downtown, shopping and walking around. One of the things we were privileged to do, was visit the Chicago River Bridgehouse Museum. Chicago has the most bridges along the river, which means they also have the most bridgehouses of any city in the United States. We learned from Ozana King, Museum Director, that Chicago reversed the flow of the river to improve water quality. Did you know, back in the 1800’s, the Chicago River used to be so dirty, that it would catch on fire? It was also so smelly, nobody wanted to even get close to it, but now some of the most expensive property is right next to the river. This is largely because of the Friends of the Chicago River. They have river clean ups and water monitoring volunteer programs going on throughout the year. In San Angelo, we are also working to reclaim our river so that it is healthier again. People don’t want to even swim in the Concho River. We have already made big improvements though, but Aqua Squad cannot do this alone. It’s going to take everyone working together. The Bridgehouse Museum inspired us to do just that.
Ruby Shell
SHEDDing Light on Water Conservation
Addison and Will of Aqua Squad SHEDD Some Light on Water Conservation.
Aqua Squad walking to the Shedd Aquarium
San Angelo has some problems with our water. We’re in the middle of a huge drought, the Concho River was designated an impaired body of water by the EPA, and three of our four lakes are drying up.
A view of Lake Michigan from the Tall Ship Windy
Chicago has a plentiful source of water, but struggles with issues of quality and others trying to take water from Lake Michigan and other Great Lakes by building pipelines away from the city. Water is a precious resource everywhere!
Today we explored how the Shedd Aquarium tries to conserve water. We went behind the scenes to explore how water goes from Chicago’s municipal water supply and through the water carbon filter system, and then treated to replicate the types of water the animals live in.
Aqua Squad with the Shedd's Allen La Pointe, Director of Environtmental Quality and Melissa Williams, Director of Education
Allen La Pointe, the Shedd’s “Water Go to Guy” (a.k.a. Director of Environmental Quality), led us through all these amazing processes. We also discussed ways that the Shedd helps conserve water. A lot of them really surprised us. For example:
Tyler the Sea Lion was splashing 2,000 gallons of water out of his tank…per day (to Allen’s dismay). Tyler is the star of the sea lion dolphin show, so selling or giving Tyler away probably wasn’t an option. Instead, they put in a drain to collect the water and pump it back into Tyler’s tank. Tyler now splashes happily ever after with no water wasted. Below is a video of Tyler performing some amazing tricks. He was awesome!
We were also surprised to know that only 54% of the water is for animals. The other 46% is for people! The picture below shows just one way the Shedd helps conserve water for human use.
Once all this water is used, the Shedd partially cleans it to prevent the waste water treatment plant from being strained and to help keep the water from becoming contaminated by algae and bacteria from exotic species .
We concluded that that all the water at the Shedd is for people. We’re the ones that built the aquarium in 1930. We’re the ones that want to spend hours and hours looking at animals. 2.1 million people per year visit the Shedd Aquarium. This is for us! So we’re happy to know the Shedd is working so hard to conserve water and keep it clean.
Conserving water is all of our responsibility, and you don’t have to be an awesome expert like Allen to save water.
Here are some tips how you can be a water hero:
Find out about your local water laws. Could you use rainwater or grey water to to water your lawn?
Water early morning or early evening.
Take 5 minute showers.
Look into low flow toilets, shower heads, and washing machines.
P.S. The Shedd doesn’t use pesticides. They pick their weeds because they don’t want to pollute Lake Michigan. After all, the staff, visitors and animals use that water to live!
What Can We Learn about Water, Art and Science by a Great Lake?
This Sunday (at 6 AM) Aqua Squad, Megan, Lillian and Christy will be flying off to Chicago for an intense week of brainstorming, creativity, exploration, research, art and the big city life! When we return, we will use what we learned to develop fantastic exhibits, resources, and artworks that will help the public consider and understand one of the most critical environmental issues facing San Angelo, Texas and the world: water quality and scarcity!
Aqua Squad will be making posts throughout the week, but for now, here’s a quick look at the itinerary.
Shedd Aquarium
Aqua Squad will spend a whole day working with Director Ted Beattie brainstorming ideas for exhibition design. We’ll also be learning how to take complicated scientific concepts and present them to the public in a way that is engaging, emotional, and easy to understand. AND they have penguins, so we’ll probably learn a lot from those guys, too.
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
Contemporary
artists often have a knack for using unexpected materials, arresting imagery, and interactive spaces to get the public thinking and talking about important issues facing our world (including pressing environmental issues). Exploring the MCA collection will no doubt inspire us to create some truly innovative projects to get the public thinking about water. The Art Nerds in the group are also very excited about this exhibition: Pandora’s Box: Joseph Cornell Unlocks the MCA Collection.
Willis Tower (Sears Tower)
Okay, so Sears isn’t actually headquartered there and technically it’s not the Sears Tower anymore, but that doesn’t change the fact that this skyscraper offers a great view of Lake Michigan. The Great Lakes hold 21% of the world’s fresh surface water, and we’re excited to see and study one of them. Gaining new perspectives and reaching new heights? We’ll definitely be checking that off our lists!
Aqua Squad: Making a Splash for Change in West Texas
Meet Aqua Squad! We are 7th and 8th grade students from the San Angelo Independent School District. We are water ambassadors!
What do we do?
We speak for water!
canoeing the Concho River and hearing what it has to say
We educate the public!
Learning about water quality with Chuck Brown from the UCRA
We explore!
Exploring waterless O.C. Fischer Lake in San Angelo
We design!
our ideas for exhibitions and programs to educate the public about water
We need YOUR help!
Fish can't live without water. Neither can we!
West Texas water is in trouble.
We need to work together to conserve our water for us,
our families,
and our future!
Come along with us to explore ways to save our water.
Art/Science Fusion is Famous!
The Institute for Museum and Library Services has recently featured Art/Science Fusion as their project profile for June! The Center for Creative Energy is
gaining some national attention for our creative approach to interdisciplinary learning and collaboration. Check out our profile here: IMLS June Profile.
Please keep visiting the blog to keep up with our summer programs Aqua Squad and Camp Odyssey. We will feature posts from students, SAISD educators, and other special guests in the next few months. Learning is a fantastic journey, you should join us!
Farewell Art/Science Fusion Spring 2011
Thanks for being such a great group of 2nd graders! Here’s a special message from the staff at the Center for Creative Energy! Have a safe and fun summer, everyone!
Our Rivers Inspire Us!
What a wonderful way to start our Art/Science Fusion! As the “science person” in this venture (I am Christy… at the UCRA Water Education Center), I just love bringing in all of this art at every opportunity.
We managed to integrate not only science and art, but also geography and Texas history in this first round of sessions. Texas is simply just so huge! That means that the waterways that serve as our borders have some very different ecosystems! Our 2nd graders became “Eco Region Experts” and sorted images of different plants and animals and presented these to the whole group. These regions were based on those waterways that serve as our borders: Rio Grande River, Red River, Sabine River and the Gulf Coast. As students explored sketching and watercolors, they learned what it meant for artists to be inspired by their surroundings. The humid Sabine River with bald cypress trees and alligators looks very different from the Rio Grande River as it runs through the Big Bend area of Texas. After learning about these different ecoregions of Texas, the students could decide which one truly inspired them.
After our long journey around the borders of Texas, I was ready to head straight for the Gulf Coast for a relaxing time on the beach hanging out with dolphins and sandpiper birds! I am pretty sure our 2nd graders were too!
Lessons About Water
San Angelo had a crazy snow/ice storm last week, so Art/Science Fusion readjusted scheduling to make sure that SAISD 2nd graders still get the most from the program. Christy and I (Meg) shared a couple of sessions, and it got me thinking about how important water is to this program.
One of our major themes and goals for the Center of Creative Energy is to connect the curriculum to water. For the All About Texas Art/Science Fusion curriculum we use water in a couple of ways:
Laying down washes of color.
1. We’re using watercolor. Okay, a bit literal, I know…BUT Walt Davis, who is featured in the All About Texas exhibition at SAMFA, created beautiful watercolor paintings to document the journey he and his wife took around the edges of Texas. Our 2nd graders are learning some basic techniques like masking, washing, and dry brushing to create watercolor postcards of the Texas landscape. At the end of the program, the kids will exchange their postcards along with a letter sharing their thoughts about their time at the Museum and Water Education Center.
Christy and students organizing Texas wildlife according to region.
2. We’re focusing on how water (in the form of rivers and an ocean basin) helps create the shape of Texas. This naturally leads to a great discussion about how ecologically diverse Texas is. Texas has 7 ecologically unique regions featuring deserts, swamps, canyons, prairies, and beaches.
Why does Texas have such an awesome terrain? Because different amounts and kinds of water (salt vs. fresh) can create different ecosystems and landforms. Of course, Texas being really, really big helps a lot!
As we continue to teach this program, we hope that students are starting to think about the important role both water and art play in their lives.
If you have a moment with your students, ask them why water is important. Then, feel free to share those responses in the comment section below.
Thanks, everyone!
–Meg
Center for Creative Energy 