Biologist Elizabeth McCloskey works with Gary West Side High School biology students and their teacher Mr. Brandon at the Deep River Outdoor Education Center Earth Day Inventory, April 21. - Courtesy photo by Daniel Goldfarb, Wildlife Habitat Council

Warm, sunny weather greeted the students of a freshman biology class from Gary West Side High School when they arrived at the Deep River Outdoor Eduction Center.  They would spend the morning before Earth Day learning about the biological resources of the approximately 75-acre parcel of woodlands, oak savanna, and wetlands along Deep River in northern Lake County, Indiana. 

The main purpose of the visit was to begin an inventory of plants in a 5-acre degraded wetland which is to be restored under a US Environmental Protection Agency  Five Star Restoration Program grant. 

Fish and Wildlife Biologist Elizabeth McCloskey of the Northern Indiana Suboffice, Ecological Services, was one of the biologists on hand to work with the group of young people.  Staff from the Outdoor Education Center, the Shirley Heinze Land Trust, the Wildlife Habitat Council, and the Gary Sanitary District were also there to teach the students about plants, wildlife, soils, and GPS. 

The class was divided into 2 groups, with Liz accompanying a group walking the trails and identifying and GPSing the locations of signficant elements, like large trees, invasive plants, and the roosting tree utilized by 2 black-crowned night herons (an Indiana endangered species).  Martin Brown of the Gary Sanitary District introduced the class to GPS technology and will provide maps showing the locations of all the significant elements in relation to the extablished Center buildings and trails.   

Paul Quinlan of the Shirley Heinze Land Trust led the second group through the 5-acre wetland, identifying native and invasive plants and digging soil pits to identify the soils and the elevation of the water table. 

Half way through the morning the students switched groups so that all had a chance to view the various sites and learn the different technologies.  This same class of students will continue to visit and work at the Center throughout their 4 years of high school, including working on the Management Plan for the site and doing on-the-ground invasive species control.