Every July, thousands of people gather in Durham City Park for the Festival for the Eno. The music and art and food trucks are great, but why is the Eno River so important? Does it really impact our daily lives? How can you use this information to appeal to a wider variety of people and convince them to care about the Eno?
Blueprint and Timeline
Driving Question:
How can teenagers be educated about the Eno River in a way that will hold their attention at the Festival of the Eno and inspire them to get more involved in its preservation?
How can teenagers be educated about the Eno River in a way that will hold their attention at the Festival of the Eno and inspire them to get more involved in its preservation?
Research Questions and Activities
What important species rely on the Eno River habitats? In order to answer this question, you will begin with internet research to develop a list of species that call the Eno River home. Be sure to note which of these are endangered, threatened, or protected. Working as a group, choose one of these species to survey along the river. There may already be a monitoring program that you can contribute to, or you may set up your own.
How does the water quality of the Eno River impact us? Did you know that the Eno River flows into Falls Lake, and that Falls Lake supplies the drinking water for over half a million people in Wake County? After learning about the different ways we can test water quality, you will collect samples from various sites along the river, and from your own kitchen sinks, and determine just how clean they are. You will also tour the North Durham Wastewater Treatment Plant to see what has to be done to our water when it isn't clean enough to drink.
How can we help preserve the Eno River? Work with your group to brainstorm a list of all the ways you can think of for individual people, including kids and teenagers, to help protect the river. Include both one time activities and changes we can make in our day to day lives. Once you are satisfied with your list, evaluate each item. Easy or hard? Cheap or expensive? Fun or frustrating? Which activities would have the biggest impact, and which are people (especially teenagers) most likely to do?
Final Task - The Festival
All the information you have gathered is great, but not if you don't share it! Now that you are an Eno River expert, your task is to design an exhibit to display at the Festival for the Eno. You can use any format you choose for your exhibit, but you should keep in mind the follow goals:
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