Students participate in watershed field day along the Thornton

Rappahannock County Elementary School sixth grade students and Hearthstone School students enjoyed participating in the annual Watershed Education Field Day on May 16. 

Held along the Thornton River at the Sperryville Schoolhouse, the students had a fun day of hands-on learning. During the day, the students collected and identified macroinvertebrates, learned about chemical and physical water testing, identified and chased amphibians, journalled, and learned about the Sperryville Water Treatment plant and the efforts made by local Citizen Scientists to monitor water quality for e. coli.

They learned how we all can make good choices to keep our rivers healthy and clean. This event, now hosted by Sperryville Schoolhouse owners Rachel and Josh Savey, has been organized annually by Beth Gall, Rachel Bynum, and the Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection Education Committee.

Seven stations visited by students were led by Education Committee members Rachel Bynum, Bob Hurley, Christina Loock, and Jane Smith, as well as volunteers from the Old Rag Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists, Friends of the Rappahannock and Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.  Kerry Sutten of the Sperryville Community Alliance’s Trails committee wrapped up the day, inviting participants back to the Thornton River trails.

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