They noticed that in all the different habitats they tried, they couldn't reach water! We discussed why this was so in a discussion later. In addition to digging, they stopped at different water habitats along the way to collect water samples with test tubes, noting the color and temperature of the water:
After lunch and play time, campers discussed their findings of the water conditions: which was warmest, which was coolest, which was darker, which was lighter. Not all results were the same, we noticed.
Then Katie the camp director visited with a groundwater exhibit. In the exhibit, campers could see what wells, septic tanks, and lakes look like underground and how the groundwater flows through the ground. Campers took turns coming up and "polluting" the different parts of the groundwater exhibit with food coloring. They noticed that the pollution didn't stay in one place; in fact, it traveled through the groundwater and made it all the way to the Connecticut River, and ultimately the ocean!
We also discussed what the water table is and why we didn't reach water when we dug our holes today: could it have something to do with the lack of rain we've had lately? Perhaps would it be different if we dug for water at the seashore, or the desert?
It is so important for kids to learn about water even here where we seem to have plenty of clean water - but that may not always be true.
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