WEBVTT
Kind: captions
Language: en

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The Dwarf Lake Iris is
in bloom, you may have seen it

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as you were coming
in the little purple flower.

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Crazy to think that it's
a threatened species

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because it is so prevalent here.

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We're going to look at different

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locations, to maybe install

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some interpretive signage
about the Dwarf Lake Iris.

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So I know that was
a goal of you guys'.

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These Posen high school
students are learning about

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the related ecosystem
to this watershed here

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on Lake Huron and Thompsons
Harbor State Park.

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They're using their quadrats
to do some habitat mapping.

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So they're doing

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some stewardship work
and they're actually

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doing their science class
with some partners here

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to help them who have experience
in identifying the species.

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Our high school is

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about 10 miles from here,

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but some of the students
hadn't been here before

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and they didn't realize all

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the different unique habitats
in this ecosystem

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and how fragile it
really can be and why

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it's important to protect it.

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So, you know, I really
want to foster that.

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I want to hear from you.

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Just some reminders of why
the fen is so unique.

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The B-WETprogram funds locally
relevant,  experiential learning

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for K-12 students and educators
through what is called

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meaningful watershed educational
experiences.

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Huron Pines through this B-WET
grant project,

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we are engaging with teachers
and students to increase

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their knowledge and

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understanding in the ecosystems
in northeast Michigan.

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It's so important for students

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to learn about the global
habitats in their backyard

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when they learn it young.

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They take it with them
throughout their lives

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and share that knowledge,

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and they'll never forget
what a coastal fen is.

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And they all grew up here,
and they'll remember that

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a global ecosystem was right
in their backyard all along.

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By taking the research

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that we're doing
in the classroom

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and then being able

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to actually be here in the field

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and apply that and see it
and touch it and feel it,

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that really solidifies that
connection that they have to it

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Did anybody see any
invasive species at all?

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That's what we're going
to take care of next,

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is pulling that,
because that does tend to grow,

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you know, right next to
the iris.

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When you take students
outside of the classroom

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and really engage them
in a hands on learning project

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where they can be stewards
of the land and understand

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those interconnections
between the habitat type

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and the unique species
that live there.

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So those experiences,
they shape our lives

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and our memories and define
who we are and where we will go

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long into the future.

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If I eventually come back here
or if I go to another state

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park, I will know to watch out
for those invasive species

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and how they are hurtful
to native plants and animals.

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When we get back
to the classroom,

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the students are going to decide
what is the most important

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information that, you know,

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a general visitor to the park

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should know about

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the iris and why
it's important to protect it.

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And we will then have it made
and then we'll install it here.

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So something that
it will be like a

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lasting impact that they had,
fostering that sense of place

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and the sense of care
and understanding

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for these natural communities
will only help build

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conservation stewards
long to the future.