Inner City Outings recently received a generous grant from the Safe & Healthy Communities initiative committee to test water quality in the South Platte basin.  Moneys from this grant will enable us to test water quality in the basin, while taking Inner City youth out to learn about the environment.

 Because many ICO leaders did not have the appropriate training to take Quality Assured water quality samples, the national Water Sentinels program director, Scott Dye, came to Denver to train RMC-ICO leaders.  Our modest Water Quality Chair, Kirk Cunningham assisted Scott in this training. In May 2007, 10 ICO leaders and 2 teens learned the essentials of water quality in the South Platte basin.  

 “We looked at lots of bug larvae, aquatic worms and other wildlife in Cherry Creek. And we tested the water for dissolved oxygen and phosphorus.  I had no idea what was even in the water before this training,” said Musa Zareie, an ICO participant.

 Over the course of rest of the year, ICO trained leaders will be taking ICO kids (and interested adults also!) to the South Platte River watershed to examine bugs, bats and other wildlife while testing its water quality. 

 “While the kids will be searching for “poop,” this is one thing that we hope isn’t found in our river, said Becky Timmerman, the new volunteer program coordinator for the ICO Water Sentinels program.   “What we want is to safely take as many kids as possible to the river, so that they can learn about the river, its wildlife, and pollution problems.  Going outdoors usually makes kids perform better in math and science,” she added.

For more information about this program, or to become involved with Inner City Outings contact:  Becky Timmerman, becks131@yahoo.com,  or Bill Myers, Chair, ICO, billmyers.pc@earthlink.net or Volunteer Coordinator, Lisa Dawson, tonsakerr@aol.com.  Visit ICO’s website:  www.rmc.sierraclub.org/outings/ico for additional information.