Young Friends 2011 Summer Nature Program Session 6 - Floating the Jordan River
The final session included a review of the learning of the past 2 weeks. The kids participated in our "Biodiversity Challenge," where we cataloged sightings of various species of plants, mammals, birds, trees, reptiles and amphibians found in the Jordan River Valley and surrounding areas. Our goal for the challenge was to document a large diversity of species with emphasis on finding rare ones to better understand the need for conservation. We were impressed with the results, as we documented 9 species of mammals, one reptile, 3 amphibians, innumerable plants and insects, and 42 species of birds! Four species found are under Threatened Status in Michigan, three more listed as Species of Special Concern, and seven Invasive Species were found. The group headed out for a rafting trip down the Jordan on the big blue rafts from the Jordan Valley Outfitters. The river was fast with lots of snags and deadfall from the spring storms. It was a challenging trip but everyone arrived safely although some of us were soaked, mostly on purpose. The kids had some time to swim at Rogers Bridge before returning to the Watershed Center for Ice Cream. We all applauded Fischer for doing a great job as our instructor. It was another successful year with 23 kids participating in a wide range of fun, informative and active adventures in the Jordan Valley.
