Many of the nearly 50 sixth-graders from Carnegie Elementary School have grown up with Chartiers Creek flowing near them. Some have seen the creek flood areas of their town, too.
But last week, the students got an entirely different view of their hometown waterway as it joins with the wide Ohio River near McKees Rocks. Adding to the experience was the fact that the students witnessed that sight from a pontoon boat provided by Allegheny CleanWays. Pontoon boats offer more visibility because they provide riders with comfortable seating and panoramic views of the scenery around them.
One classroom of sixth graders made the all-day trip on Oct. 7 and the other went the next day. Sixth-grade teachers Beth Martys and Cynthia Bevan accompanied their students. The classes were bused to McKees Rocks by the Carlynton School District, but expenses were paid for by a $3,000 Department of Environmental Protection grant for watershed education that was obtained by Allegheny CleanWays, a non-profit organization formed in 2000 to eliminate illegal dumping in the county.
Besides the boat ride, many got their first up-close glimpses of deer, and they spent time cleaning up riverside trash that included tires and car parts.
"The kids were just dumbfounded by the trash," observed one of the adults on the trip.
But the students also appreciated seeing sights they don't usually encounter every day.
"It was so unique," said sixth-grader Jaila Haygood.
"This was the best field trip I've been on at this school!" gushed Arionna Lemon, another sixth-grader.
Carnegie Mayor Jack Kobistek was delighted, too.
"I am so excited for these kids. I feel like a kid in a candy store," he said."It was a neat educational experience for these kids."
Pointing out that the Ohio River eventually joins the Mississippi River, he believes the trip will "allow kids to understand how interconnected we all are. Watershed education for the community of Carnegie is very important," the mayor added.
The trips, as well as watershed education, were made possible for the Carnegie Elementary School students thanks to a $3,000 environmental education grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that was obtained by Myrna Newman, executive director of Allegheny CleanWays, a 15-year-old organization formed initially to increase public awareness of illegal dumping and the need for clean-up.
Ms. Newman made the boat trip, too.
"We were in the section of the creek where we can take a pontoon boat into," she said.
The idea behind the field trip was generated months ago when Mayor Kobistek talked to Ms. Newman about an anti-littering program and watershed education. Ms. Newman subsequently submitted a grant request to the DEP, which approved the idea. The educational aspect of the program was aimed at 300 Carnegie Elementary School students in grades 3-6.
The pontoon boat, aptly named "Rachel Carson" was supplied by Allegheny CleanWays.
Carole Gilbert Brown, freelance writer: suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.
First Published: October 16, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
