Outdoor Learning Conference 2026

This field-based session engages participants in exploring how aquatic macroinvertebrates can be used to assess the health of local waterways. Through guided instruction, participants will learn safety considerations for taking students to water sites, methods for collecting and identifying macroinvertebrates, and strategies for integrating these investigations into outdoor education programs. The session features Macroinvertebrate Mayhem, an interactive Project WET activity that simulates the relationships between biodiversity, water quality, and ecosystem health. The importance of riparian areas in supporting healthy aquatic systems will also be discussed. Each participant will receive a copy of the Project WET Macroinvertebrate Mayhem activity and a macroinvertebrate identification chart to support classroom or field learning.