Photos and writing by Linda Schwab, LaPorte County Soil & Water Conservation District

Recently, on the banks of the Kankakee River, busloads of local 4^th graders came together to learn about the beauty and history of the river and the importance of watershed stewardship. Their final test and reward? Paddling on the Kankakee in 24-foot replica Voyageur canoes!

Indiana’s LaPorte County Soil & Water Conservation District (LPSWCD) presented its annual Kankakee River Days at the Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area at the end of September. As the river knows no political boundaries, LPSWCD collaborated with neighboring county soil and water conservation districts, including Lake, Newton, Porter, and Starke, which share the Kankakee River Watershed, at the Grand Kankakee Marsh the following week, extending those stewardship lessons and canoeing enjoyment to even more 4^th graders.

During this day-long field trip, students visited land-based learning stations to learn about the history of Indigenous peoples along the river, historic fur traders and explorers, microplastic pollution and its impact on natural resources, wildlife carrying capacity and migration, watershed stewardship, and water quality biotic indicators, including benthic macroinvertebrates (ask your local 4^th grader what that means). The students then paddled in teams along the river, connecting lessons to place.

For many students, this was the first opportunity they had to paddle. While most embraced the challenge, some did have their reservations. Those concerns were soon alleviated when the professional boat captains took the helm and encouraged their crew to paddle hard and enjoy their serene surroundings on the river. By connecting with the river, students learned to appreciate it as a valuable resource for humans and nature and understand it is more than a line on a map, or something crossed on a bridge. This program teaches students about the importance of protecting and conserving the Kankakee River and fosters stewardship in the younger generation.

The LPSWCD would like to thank its many sponsors, partners, and collaborators for bringing this program to their community, free of charge, to the schools. Sponsors include the Kankakee River Basin and Yellow River Basin Development Commission; Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area; Lake County Parks & Recreation District; Lake, Newton, Porter, and Starke County Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Purdue Extension – LaPorte County; LaPorte County Solid Waste Management District, Matt Jones historic interpretation; LaPorte County Stormwater; Lake County Solid Waste Management District; “Coyote Tom,” Pokagon Band of Potawatomi; Open Water beverages; Wilderness Inquiry; and numerous staff and volunteers representing these organizations. Most importantly, they would like to thank the school districts, bus drivers, teachers, chaperones, and the 1,344 inquisitive students who make this program work and so worthwhile.