A Day of Discovery at Stone Laboratory

Paul Genzman’s Environmental Science students spent the day at OSU’s Stone Lab on Gibraltar Island near Put-In-Bay on South Bass Island. Led by Stone Lab instructors, students conducted a variety of tests on the water near Rattlesnake Island measuring wind speed, air and water temperature, water clarity, and wave height.  They took water samples to look for the presence of zooplankton, phytoplankton, fish, and benthic invertebrates. 

“This trip is a truly unique experience for our students.  It’s one thing to discuss how special the Great Lakes are, but to be on a boat with fresh water as far as you can see and to interact with these surroundings is really special. You are able to observe microscopic organisms you didn’t know existed or observe the biodiversity of fish species captured in the trawl. It is so rewarding to see how excited our students are to be there. We are truly fortunate to have this experience!” shares teacher Paul Genzman.

The students also learned about the ecosystem, environmental challenges caused by human impact, success of conservation efforts, the role of Stone Lab, and the history of the region. Special thanks to Stone Lab and their amazing instructors. 

Thanks to Paul Genzman and Ottawa Hills Schools Foundation for making the field trip possible and to our chaperones Mandy Ricketts, Matt Douglas, Meredith and Kevin Friedman, Rama Padhye, Scott Heckathorn and Bryan Kelm.  

Assistant Principal Dr. Mandy Ricketts also joined the students on the trip. “It was wonderful to spend time with the AP Environmental Science students and see them apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world research,” she said. “The trip was an incredible opportunity to get to know our students better outside of the school building.”

Following the trip to Stone Lab, Genzman’s environmental science classes will visit the Ottawa River to conduct similar tests to the ones they did at Stone Lab.  They will compare the chemical and physical properties of water at each location.  In recent years, the Village of Ottawa Hills has made considerable improvements to the river through various community cleanups, including the removal of a dam and of invasive species.