Growing the Next Generation of River Stewards
Haw River Assembly provides environmental education programming to students throughout the Haw River watershed. Our hands-on, interactive lessons are aligned with NC Essential Standards and yet also aim to foster students' connection to the local waterways. Programs are designed to deepen students’ understanding of local streams and rivers while building skills in stream ecology, environmental science, and watershed awareness. While we host our annual field trip called the “Learning Celebration” in the Fall for 4th graders and have an existing "Stream Investigation Program” tailored for middle and high schoolers, we also offer additional environmental education services.
We are proud to serve a wide range of K–12 learning opportunities, including public, private, and charter schools; homeschool groups; church groups; after-school programs; youth clubs; organizations; and more. Please see our program offerings below.
We serve in the following counties: Alamance, Chatham, Guildford, Rockingham, Orange, Caswell, Durham, and Western Wake County
Each program is $5 to participate in for each student.
If cost is a barrier, please reach out to Sandra@hawriver.org directly. We especially aim to support schools with limited access to natural spaces and those serving low-income and underserved communities.
Program Offerings
FROM STREETS TO STREAMS – Enviroscape 3D Watershed Model
Watch a 3D watershed model (Enviroscape) come to life as students explore stormwater runoff, urban impact, and how pollutants travel through a watershed. During the interactive demonstration, students observe different land uses and investigate how human activity affects water quality.
This hands-on lesson introduces key concepts in watershed science and helps students connect everyday actions to downstream impacts while having fun!
Location: At your school (Indoor or Outdoor)
Grade Levels: 3RD–8TH
Duration: 30–50 Minutes
CREEK CRITTER DISCOVERY TABLE
Students explore a variety of “creek critters” and learn how these organisms serve as bioindicators of water quality, helping scientists understand the health of a stream. Through guided investigation, students observe differences in body shape, size, behavior, and adaptations, and connect these traits to each organism’s role in the ecosystem.
Using tools such as microscopes, hand lenses, hand scopes, identification guides, and dichotomous keys, students practice scientific observation and classification skills as they identify macroinvertebrates.
This interactive program emphasizes curiosity-driven discovery while building foundational skills in ecology, taxonomy, and environmental science.
Location: At your school (Indoor or Outdoor)
Grade Levels: 3RD–8TH
Duration: 50–75 Minutes
STREAM INVESTIGATIONS
Based on our existing Haw River Watch Program, students will explore at their stream site and collect stream data using simple water parameters (pH, nitrate testing, and temperature) and visual assessments of stream bank erosion and algae growth.
Students will collect, identify, and assess macroinvertebrate diversity as an indicator of stream health. Focusing on place based learning, students will also learn about their school's ecological address, water intake, and output, including its drinking water source and the receiving streams for stormwater and wastewater.
Location: At stream site
Grade Levels: 6TH–12TH
Duration: 60–75 Minutes