TO: Grade 5 Parents

RE: Volunteering for River-Lab Guiding and Lab Leading

The springscience unit this upcoming school year will be River-Lab—a hands-on, inquiry-based, award-winning, environmental science education program. The concepts presented in the classroom are brought to life for students during a one hour and 15 minute study-trip to the Mill River followed by a one hour and 15 minute microscopy lab back in their classroom.Each River-Lab study-trip and lab is led by parent volunteer guides and lab leaders. This is where you are needed!

River-Lab makes up one-third of the Fairfield Public School system's science curriculum for Grades 3-6 and includes material that is covered on the Science CMT.

Each class will need 4-5 parent volunteer guides who will lead students on the trail and assist them back in the classroom lab.

River-Lab guides need to complete two training sessions:

1. One onlinetraining, which takes about one hour,and

2. One 1 ½ hour session of outdoor training at the Mill River Laboratory Area. You choose a time that is convenient for you from the schedule of many weekday training sessions or a Saturday session.

Each class will also need one volunteer laboratory leader.

Lab leaders will be required to attend a two hour training session.

The River-Lab study-trip program is a rewarding way for you to be involved with your child’s school and spend time outdoors. Without River-Lab guides, there would be no study-trips or labs. So, please volunteer to join River-Lab and learn, along with your young student, about our local environment—its geology, ecology, human history, and how we all impact the system. Make this program a part of your commitment to your community and your child.

To sign up for training, please contact your River-Lab School Captain,

______at (203) ______or email at ______

Your River-Lab School Captain is your liaison for River-Lab and is available to answer any questions you may have. You may also contact the 5th grade River-Lab Co-Director Sara Jannott (203) 362-7460.

Rev: 1/30/18

River-Lab

Mill River Wetland Committee, Inc.

(203) 259-1847

© 2018 Mill River Wetland Committee, Inc.