An education partnership between conservation & community media

STREAM stands for Student  Training in Reporting for Environmental & Agricultural science  Media  projects. 

As part of a CALFED  Watershed Program grant 2008-2010, this project will utilize the information obtained through a detailed geomorphic assessment  study of Cache Creek in Capay Valley, (designed to determine the underlying causes of bank erosion) to produce watershed education exercises targeted for local middle school students. This curriculum will be designed to supplement six graders'  ongoing, in-class study of earth and life sciences.

An on-site field visit will be scheduled for each 6th grade class during the school year, and students will be introduced to creek condition monitoring techniques. They will work in teams, and receive instruction at several activity stations in the collection of a variety of measures that are associated with the processes of erosion and deposition. These include calculating flow velocity, performing water quality assessment tests, and examining the diversity of macro-invertebrates present in different areas of the creek. Given the importance of Cache Creek as a major wildlife corridor and habitat for many species, students will also participate in field exercises that document the biodiversity along the creek. The project will receive logistical assistance on field-visit days through partnership with the Center for Land-Based Learning, which has years of experience providing on-site "placed-based" conservation education for students in both northern and southern California.

Following their field visit, students will also receive in-class training in digital media technology  and will be assisted with the production of their own short environmental documentaries, public service announcements,  and website productions  to share information about their watershed with their local community.

One of the goals of this program is to engage students in learning about both environmental stewardship and media literacy, through hands-on exposure to local conservation efforts and media production experience.

This project will also partner with a local community media center, Davis Media Access, (DMA) which has two decades of experience in providing instruction in both field and in-studio video production. 

The recent addition of their new digital field cameras and laptops allows media trainers to take their  instruction "on the road", and provide media training both in-class at the students' school, and in field settings as well.  Students will also receive training in community outreach and engagement. They will be assisted by Davis Media Access and project staff in the production of a community screening event designed to highlight their education experiences in the watershed through the presentation of their media projects.

To download a brochure describing the STREAM project, click here.

For more information about the STREAM project, please contact YCRCD Education Coordinator, Diane Crumley:  530-662-2037 ext. 121 or email  "crumley at yolorcd dot org"