Inland Seas Education Association is more than a ship! Our land-based watershed exploration programs help learners connect the land and human behaviors to the health of the Great Lakes. Students are also exposed to technology and careers that protect them. From learning about invasive species through dissection to exploring the riparian zone at a nearby creek, students will come away with deeper knowledge and connections to the Great Lakes watershed.
We offer four different Watershed Exploration programs – each developed for different age ranges. All are designed to help teachers meet Michigan’s K-12 Science Standards.
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Program Details
Choose your adventure! Select one or multiple programs to build a single or multi-day trip. If you’re coming from a distance, check out our on-site dormitory accommodations.
Dates Offered:
- Spring: March through mid-April
- Fall: Mid-October through November
Program Location:
All programs meet in Suttons Bay at the Thomas M. Kelly Biological Station. Watershed Watchers and Study the Stream involve a 10-15 minute walk on the Leelanau Trail from the Biological Station to Leo Creek Nature Preserve.
Time:
Each program is 3 hours. You can choose to start at 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, or 1:00 PM.
Group Size:
Max. of 32 students
Cost:
$300 (Thanks to the generous support of individual donors and foundations who subsidize the remaining cost.)
Program Options
Watershed Watchers
Grades 4-12
*Spring Only
Students identify the boundary of a local watershed and evaluate the health of a stream that flows into Suttons Bay. Students collect macroinvertebrates and water chemistry data to make a diagnosis, then assess how human behaviors on land can negatively or positively impact the watershed.
Dissect the Watershed
Grades 9-12
Students get up close and personal with one of the most prolific invasive species in the Great Lakes – the Sea Lamprey. Through a guided dissection, students learn what makes a species ‘invasive’, how advantageous adaptations allow invasives to outcompete native species, and what methods can be used to help control their spread.
Navigate the Great Lakes
Grades 4-12
Students learn the unique skills associated with navigating on the open waters of the Great Lakes, like how to read maps, take compass bearings, and calculate distances by charting a course. Participants explore Great Lakes-related careers and learn to use tools such as a compass and bathymetric charts, then put their skills to the test by navigating a land-based course with a compass.
Study the Stream
Grades 6-12
*Fall Only
Learn how streams carry runoff from the local watershed into the Great Lakes, then investigate the impact of physical properties of streams and their banks on water quality by measuring riparian zone characteristics and building a stream profile.
How to Register
You can register for your Watershed Exploration program online using our registration platform – Fareharbor.
- Go to our live calendar (below) that displays our real-time availability and select your date. Open dates are visible on the calendar.
- Select either a Half Day Trip (one program), Full Day Trip (two programs), or Overnight Program (three programs).
- Input information about your student group and select a specific program and start time.
- Acknowledge the cancellation policy and pay a deposit to reserve your spot.
- You’re all set! You’ll receive a confirmation email and an ISEA staff member will be in touch within a few weeks of registering.