About Cañon's Cheyenne Creek Conservation Club in Colorado Springs
Cheyenne Creek Conservation Club has been learning how to scientifically monitor Cheyenne Creek, which flows toward the east, on the south side of our school. Although this creek is one of several small natural waterways located on the west side of Colorado Springs, it is the only one that flows year round, right past a school.
Our environmental club, supported in part by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, is open each fall by application to fifth and sixth graders. Students meet twice a month to do creek water testing, flow tests, water quality testing, and study the Riparian habitat. Many members of the club and teachers, Mr. Eick and Ms. Peterson will take part in a training retreat the first weekend of October at Bear Trap Ranch.
Students interested in the water quality of rivers in our state, enjoy chemistry experiments, like the outdoors, like to help our community and state, will enjoy being a member of this club.
The Cheyenne Creek Conservation Club passed it's annual review from the Colorado Division of Wildlife in January 2008. Each month the creek is tested again for metal, ph, hardness, flow and alkalinity. Meeting times are also used to clean up the creek banks and observe seasonal changes in this riparian habitat.
Our club has also recently been chosen to collect nutrient and macroinvertebrate samples for the state. We also completed another fish sampling this fall with help from Gary Dowler, our "local" aquatic biologist from the D.O.W.
This program is also continuing a historical tradition in our community. The current site of Canon Elementary was once a nature center in the 1920's, 30's and 40's where students from the original Cheyenne School studied botany and ecology, and used the natural outdoor resources as a means for further education in all disciplines.
Parents and others interested in learning more about this growing club should contact Mr. Eick or Ms. Peterson.
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