My Nonprofit Reviews

I am a 6th Grade Science teacher at Kenmore Middle School in Arlington, VA. Our Science students participate in a program with a community group called Earth Force that ties in with our state curriculum. Earth Force encourages students to evaluate the water quality in their local stream and create a Civic Action Project to help improve the overall health of the stream.

Every fall, my students take a trip to the Four Mile Run, the stream closest to our school. We work closely with Kurt Moser, Earth Force Director, to sample, test, and analyze water quality from the stream. We usually find that there are high amounts of Fecal Caliform Bacteria (F.C.B.) in the water. F.C.B. includes e Coli and is dangerous to human health. Kurt works with students and teachers to research causes of F.C.B. and current policies and practices relating to water quality.

After analyzing the data, students work in groups and create a Civic Action Project. Each project is designed to improve water quality in our local stream. The projects change each year because the students have different interests and strengths. Our students have built rain gardens, made formal presentations to the School and County Boards, taught younger students about what causes pollution in our streams, and have even created raps and videos that teach the importance of water quality.

We are so fortunate to work with Earth Force! We hope to continue this partnership for years to come.

Victoria Keish
6th Grade Science Teacher
Kenmore Middle School
Arlington, VA