Western Wayne High School students recently had the opportunity to step outside the traditional classroom and become environmental scientists for the day as they participated in the first session of the 2026–2027 Community Connections to Our Watershed Environmental Forum.
Held September 25 at Lackawanna State Park, the opening session brought together student teams from nine area high schools: Carbondale Area, Forest City Regional, Lackawanna Trail, Lakeland, Mountain View, Old Forge, Riverside, Wayne Highlands, and Western Wayne. The program is designed for high school students interested in learning more about the environment through hands-on investigations, field experiences, and interactions with environmental and natural-resource professionals.
The day’s theme, “An Introduction to Watersheds,” introduced students to the importance of watersheds and the ways scientists can evaluate the health of aquatic ecosystems. Students participated in three hands-on learning stations focusing on aquatic macroinvertebrates, chemical water-quality testing, and evaluating scientific evidence.
The day began with a special bird-banding experience led by Dr. Rob Smith of the University of Scranton. Students had the opportunity to observe the bird-banding process and learn how scientists collect information that can be used to better understand bird populations and their movements. The experience was both educational and memorable, and students particularly enjoyed working with Dr. Smith and learning firsthand from a university scientist.
Students then rotated through hands-on stations led by Pennsylvania State Parks educators and other presenters. During the aquatic macroinvertebrate activity, students learned how organisms found in streams can provide evidence about stream health. At the chemical-analysis station, students developed practical skills by conducting water-quality tests and interpreting their results. They also explored how evidence can be used to support scientific claims.
For Western Wayne students, the experience provided an opportunity to apply concepts they have studied in science class to a real-world environmental setting. Rather than simply reading about water quality or watersheds, students were able to collect evidence, conduct tests, make observations, and work alongside professionals in the field.
The Community Connections to Our Watershed program is coordinated by educational staff from Lackawanna, Nescopeck, and Vosburg Neck State Parks. Throughout the school year, participating students will visit additional sites throughout the region, meet natural-resource and higher-education professionals, and learn about conservation practices and technologies being used to protect local natural resources. The program is designed to support Pennsylvania STEELS standards as well as Social Studies standards.
The program will continue throughout the school year with upcoming experiences focusing on stream assessments, current environmental issues, impacts from the past, winter ecology, water resources, and Earth Day stewardship. Students will ultimately be challenged to identify an environmental issue at their school or within their community and develop a stewardship project to address it. The program will culminate with a luncheon where participating teams will share their stewardship action projects.
Western Wayne High School is proud to have students representing the school in this year’s forum. Their enthusiasm, curiosity, and willingness to participate in hands-on learning made the first session a tremendous success. Experiences such as these give students the opportunity to see science in action while developing a greater appreciation for the natural resources found in their own community.
Photo captions
Photo 1: Western Wayne High School students participate in a bird-banding experience at Lackawanna State Park during the opening session of the 2026–2027 Community Connections to Our Watershed Forum. Students worked with bird-banding professionals, including Dr. Rob Smith of the University of Scranton, to learn how scientists study local bird populations. (Left to Right: Audrey Capozzi, Dr. Mark Nebzydoski, Rhys Locklin, Giana Graci, Layla Kaub, holding a gray cat bird.
Photo 2: A Western Wayne student conducts chemical water-quality testing during the Community Connections to Our Watershed Forum at Lackawanna State Park. Students learned how biological and chemical testing can provide evidence about the health of aquatic ecosystems. Photo 2: Left to Right Layla Kaub, Giana Graci.
Photo 3: A Western Wayne student conducts chemical water-quality testing during the Community Connections to Our Watershed Forum at Lackawanna State Park. Students learned how biological and chemical testing can provide evidence about the health of aquatic ecosystems. Left to Right: Rhys Locklin, Audrey Capozzi.
