Streamscape is an environmental initiative seeking the energy and talents ofTransition Year students to make a real difference, writes Louise Holden
A river is a gossip. It will tell you all about the people in a neighbourhood and what they get up to. It will reveal secrets about their past, their myths and stories, their loves and wrongdoings. Every detail of a place - from its birdlife to its nightlife - can be read in a river. The Streamscapes project invites Transition Year students to ask the right questions of their local waterway.
"This is perfect learning programme for Transition Year," says Streamscapes organiser Mark Boyden. "It draws on every discipline from conflict resolution to geography. No matter what a student's aptitude they can shine - whether they are testing water samples, photographing wild birds or lobbying the local farming community."
The idea behind Streamscapes is that students analyse their local river, canal or stream from a variety of different perspectives. When all the necessary information is gathered, students then present their profile of the locality based on what the river has told them. If there are changes that the local community can make to improve the health of the river, students may campaign for action.
A typical Streamscapes project begins with a broad overview of the waterway. Where does it begin and end? What activities take place in and around the water? What vegetation feeds the river's wildlife? Who uses the river and what for? Once these basic criteria have been established students may decide to focus on water quality, the fish, animals and insects that inhabit the river area, the soil and rocks in the locale and the nature and source of its pollution. All of these questions lead students out into the wider community as they seek out the influences that make the river what it is today.
"Everything from the names of the bridges to the activities of local fishermen tells us something about the river. If two groups have different, conflicting influences on a river, for example farmers and birdwatchers or anglers and canoeists, there may be a local conflict. Students have no idea where this project will lead - that's what makes it so fascinating," says Boyden.
Streamscapes has been around for over a decade, but this is the first year that it has been made available as a dedicated Transition Year programme. Boyden believes that TY students will charge the project with new energy because of the enormous range of talents that exist within any one TY class.
"Not everyone in a class will be interested in the chemistry of the water or the geography of the area," Boyden explains. "Some people will be brilliant at presenting the data through graphic design. Others will excel at spreading the message of the project in the neighbourhood through public relations. Another student might find the history of the river inviting, or the sporting activities that take place there."
There are socio-demographic dimensions to be taken into account, too. If the river is in an urban area with many young people and few social resources, the water and its surrounds may be littered with beer cans. If it's full of crisp packets, local school children may have a role to play in the river's health. Perhaps a local business, such as a fast food chain, might surface as a major pollutant. Whatever students unearth, there is the potential to enact real change.
Boyden describes some of the actions that students have taken to safeguard the health of their river. "We have had groups plant trees along an unstable riverbank to protect it from erosion. Others have produced pamphlets and organised local campaigns to alert certain groups about the danger their behaviour might be posing for the river. On a number of occasions groups have brought the whole community together at the river to celebrate its uniqueness, examine the threats to its health and look at ways of safeguarding its future."
A number of times the Streamscape programme has culminated in a Fish Fry, where a young salmon or trout (juvenile fish are known as fry) is given to every person present to release into the river. This process gives members of the local community a feeling of ownership of the water, Boyden explains. "They wonder about the survival of the young fish they released and it inspires them to keep thinking about the future of the river."
Teachers are delighted with the Streamscapes programme as they can see the potential for real whole-class involvement.
"Not everybody has to learn everything about the river. Each person can follow their own calling. The group is let loose on the river and what each person brings back can be astonishing. It gives people a chance to explore their own strengths and to surprise others with what they are capable of," says Boyden.
