Outreach Programs: Pennsylvania

The Leaf Pack Network®

General Information: Contact person: Christina Medved, cmedved@stroudcenter.org
Address: Stroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Road, Avondale, PA 19311 USA
Phone: 610-268-2153 ext. 258
Email: leafpacknetwork@stroudcenter.org
URL: http://www.stroudcenter.org/lpn
Program Summary: Subject: Stream Ecology and Aquatic Biodiversity
Audience: middle school and high school
Program Type: Curriculum Development by Stroud Water Research Center
Program Description: The Leaf Pack Network® involves numerous schools that use the Leaf Pack Stream Ecology Kit to introduce students to the fascinating world of local rivers and streams. Students place their own mesh bags of leaves in streams to mimic the natural accumulation of leaves that occurs in autumn. Stroud Center scientists also use this technique to reveal intricate food webs and the inextricable link of streamside forest to the integrity of stream ecosystems. This project gets students into the field to study their local watershed issues and to sample macroinvertebrates. After conducting their own leaf pack experiment, these schools share their data through the Leaf Pack Network. Visit http://www.stroudcenter.org/lpn for more information and an opportunity to view the Leaf Pack Network video detailing the specifics of the project.
Funding Agency: The William Penn Foundation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.