Jody Richards Elementary School students Anderson Bardales (from left), 12, Lyliana Alvarez, 12, Lucy Hodgkins, 12, and Jace Jarvis, 11, learn about testing the pH of river water Friday, May 10, 2019, from Bowling Green environmental manager Matt Powell during Streamside Field Day at Romanza Johnson Park. (Bac Totrong/photo@bgdailynews.com)

Sometimes it’s the simple things – walking into a creek, building structures from recycled cans, petting a slimy salamander – that really make an impact.

Kentucky stream experts attempted Friday to help sixth grade students from St. Joseph Interparochial and Jody Richards Elementary schools learn about environmental science and why it matters during the biannual Streamside Field Day near Drakes Creek within Romanza Johnson Park.

The youngsters rotated through nine stations designed to impart lessons of biology, chemistry and ecology.

The Kentucky Division of Water set up two stations to teach kids about fish and benthic macroinvertebrates, which are tiny animals living among the stream’s sediment, stones and logs. The biologists fished out the critters before the kids arrived and let the children hold or touch the animals. One child even attempted to walk away with a snail.

Alicia Jacobs of the Kentucky Division of Water expressed appreciation for the outdoor learning opportunity.

“Hands-on learning is the way to go,” Jacobs said.

There were also stations related to recycling, water treatment and testing the pH of the stream, which involved actually getting into the stream.

Two mothers of Jody Richards students set up a station to show students the science of bioluminescence – the emission of light from living organisms – from crushed-up leaves.

“They’re learning lots of neat things,” said Kristina Wimpee, who added that she’s anxious to get feedback from her daughter.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources set up a show-and-tell with frogs and salamanders and discussed the animals’ habits and unique features. There was some squirming, but there was also a lot of leaning in really close.

Lost River Cave staff created a station focused on karst geology. At the end of the lesson, the staff demonstrated water pouring through cave bedrock and ending up in the water we drink.

One child remained after for a moment, and said, “we should be doing more to protect the water.”

The city of Bowling Green and the Warren County Office of Stormwater Management organize the event with assistance from Western Kentucky University, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, the Warren County Conservation District and other agencies.

Andrea Strange, the Warren County Stormwater public outreach coordinator, echoed the day’s sentiment of the power of nature for children.

“It’s my favorite thing we do all year,” Strange said.

Cecelia Cowan, a science teacher at St. Joseph Interparochial School, said it’s valuable for children to experience nature and science outdoors. “This was an awesome, very educational day for sixth grade,” Cowan said. “Science is hands-on. … There’s a lot of these kids that don’t come outside.”

Hannah Blankenship, a science teacher at Jody Richards Elementary School, participated for the third year in a row with her students.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to get kids outside and away from screens,” she said.