Sixth Graders Set Sail: Back on the St. Louis River in 2022
Local students were back on the Quest in 2022! The St. Louis River Quest, that is. River Quest is an annual event that provides hands-on learning experiences for 6th graders in our region ‘to enhance awareness and understanding of the St. Louis River’. After an in-person pause during the pandemic, area businesses and organizations were excited to get back “on board” to inspire students with the many ways the St. Louis River is vital to our community.
During one week in May, about 1,500 6th graders converge at the DECC and on the Vista Fleet for an epic educational adventure. The students visit 10-12 learning stations provided by industries, agencies, and nonprofits about the interrelated ecological, industrial, commercial, and recreational aspects of the river.
WLSSD has participated in River Quest since the beginning in 1993—nearly 30 years! Our staff describe the wastewater treatment process using hands-on demonstrations including a microscope to view the real workers at WLSSD, our friends the microorganisms.
Students get to witness microbes as they slurp up nutrients from wastewater and help break down the tiny bits of suspended solids. During each 10-minute session (with about 20 small groups of students each day), we aim to demonstrate how dirty water is cleaned and describe the important role WLSSD plays in keeping the St. Louis River and Lake Superior swimmable and fishable.
Catch a virtual glimpse of our presentation on the River Quest website, or visit here (https://vimeo.com/552008207).
We all send wastewater down the drain when we flush our toilets, take a shower, and wash dishes. Where it goes, and what happens to it, is something we might not like to think about. The 6th graders at River Quest get the full juicy scoop on where their wastewater goes and how it gets cleaned up so the water can be safely returned to the river—keeping the river thriving and at the heart of our community.
Learn more at St. Louis River Quest (stlouisriverquest.org) or contact stlouisriverquest@gmail.com to donate or volunteer.