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Don that Life Vest, Dip in your Oars, and Boot Up your Computer:
Don that Life Vest, Dip in your Oars, and Boot Up your Computer:
Seventh graders at Brandywine Springs compete in a Virtual Canoe Race down the Delaware River.
Imagine yourself putting in your canoe at the Headwaters of the Delaware River in Hancock, New York and setting off on a 300 mile race to the mouth of the river where it meets the Delaware Bay. What could you learn from this experience? What science, geography, and historical information does the river wind through on it’s way to the Delaware Bay? This past month, seventh grade students at Brandywine Springs School set off on such an epic canoe trip through the Delaware River Keeper’s Virtual Canoe Race. Students had to answer questions and complete tasks in order to gain river miles on their way to the Bay. As students submitted answers and completed tasks they tracked their weekly progress on the Delaware River Virtual Canoe Race Website.
Throughout the six week experience starting on October 3, The “Brandywine Springs Bobcats” canoe has been in last place, third place, first place and in second. Students enjoyed the format of the race. Learning comes alive because of the challenge and competition with other schools, and organizations as they make their way down the river.
The Virtual Canoe race has been an epic journey. The Delaware River’s headwaters in the Catskills of New York State provide New York City’s drinking water. As the river flows, it winds it way through one of the most densely populated areas of the US East Coast. A human’s need of water means many metropolises of the world developed along rivers.Historical and cultural events happen where rivers are due to human’s need of water. The Delaware River’s cultural impact is significant and impactful to the many people who depend on it.
The Delaware River watershed has many people living within it’s border. It is important that through learning about the river we also learn about its vital health and environmental impact on those that live within the watershed boundaries. The curriculum for Delaware 7th graders include the Delaware Watershed kit, which has students explore a fictional watershed called the Big River Watershed. The impact of learning about a fictional watershed vs. competing against others in learning about a real, local watershed is significant. Students are excited to learn, because the river is real,the impact is local, and the competition is a challenge. Even though students aren’t putting on life vests and dipping oars into a river, this Virtual Canoe race has been a great addition to the learning opportunities here at Brandywine Springs and gets students excited to conduct real local stream health tests later on in the springtime.