Activities for Science/Ecology club at school?

Question

I have had the idea to start an ecology club at my high school. What is good about this is that the school is in walking distance of a river called the Eno River. I have already contacted the Eno River Assosication and they are enthusiastic about helping and have given a few ideas of what the club could do. One of these was testing water quality of the River every few weeks. What other activities could we do regarding ecology/wildlife/science? It doesn't necessarly have to be at the Eno River but I think it is great to take advantage of it being close.

Answer 1

Perhaps you could have an animal/plant of the week.  Something from your area or that lives in or near the river, so the members have an easier time connecting to it.  You could go over some basics, like: this animal eats this, and this eats that animal, and then what the conservation status of this creature is (remember, it doesn't have to be threatened to be appreciated!).  You could begin by asking them what comes to mind when they think of that animal or plant, so you're all aware of how the general public may hold this organism's "value" to be.  Then the rest of the presentation would basically be illustrating how "valuable" nature finds them, and what their impact on the local ecosystem would be if they suddenly died out (or if they went through a huge population boom).

Answer 2

You could organize a highway cleanup...  that's what the biology club at my school does every few months!  You could also contact your state fish or wildlife commissions about volunteer work.

Answer 3

Ask if there are any non-native (invasive) plants along the river that need to be removed.  Your group may be able to do that for them...also ask about just doing a random clean-up (picking up trash, etc.) along the river.  Also, you could start a recycling program at your high school if there is not one already...and donate the money you make from the recyclables to an environemental cause.