During Jacket Thrive Intersession last week, Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District welcomed guests from the Mississippi State University Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture to the "Let's Get Wild" enrichment camp to share about water conservation and careers in environmental science. Campers spent part of their week in learning about water treatment and how environmental scientists work to control water flow in populated areas through hands-on activities led by Dr. Beth Baker, Assistant Director of MSU Extension for Environmental Stewardship.
Students tossed balls in class to understand the steps for how water is used, treated and then, recycled in households and communities. The activity gave students an understanding of the steps involved in treating water and the agencies or services that are needed to provide communities with clean water.
Then, campers stepped outside to learn about watershed conservation with an interactive demonstration of how scientists and engineers use grasses, trees and other plants to help safeguard facilities and whole communities from excessive water overflow. Students watched waterflow as Dr. Baker simulated "rain" falling on a three-dimensional community model. They were able to see how water flowed through the environment, impacting homes, farms and businesses. They discussed the methods that scientists can use to control waterflow as well as protect the soil from erosion and help communities keep from being impacted by excess waterflow.
Dr. Baker is an award-winning researcher and educator in the fields of water quality, watershed conservation and conservation education. She serves as an Associate Extension Professor and Assistant Director of Extension for Environmental Stewardship in the Mississippi State Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Through ongoing partnerships with Mississippi State, SOCSD provides students with hands-on learning experiences, interaction with industry and field professionals, as well as a real-world glimpse at future careers. MSU has partnered with the district to offer these types of experiences through a variety of university departments for every Jacket Thrive intersession since SOCSD began the initiative in 2022. The district hosts Jacket Thrive accelerated learning and enrichment camps twice per year, in the fall and spring. Jacket Thrive is designed to offer opportunities for struggling students to catch up on core skills in a more individualized classroom environment, as well as provide targeted learning through camps centered aroudn student interests and career exploration.
