For this project, CY Ripples connected with youth in identified communities within York Region, providing them with a unique opportunity to participate in citizen science activities (precipitation measurements, water sample testing and data processing) and to be engaged in watershed monitoring related workshops.

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FIELD TRAINING

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We have  contacted watershed scientists who can provide field training for participants in this project. This training involved learning how to use water sampling kits and took place in the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s Training Centre at Lake St George. This 2-3 hour training was run on September 22nd and was well received among all participants. 

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WATER SAMPLING​

After participants completed the field training, they were divided into 5 groups, with 3-4 people per group. Each group covered 3-4 sampling locations and conducted water sampling on the final Sunday of each month from September to March, except when the water is frozen in the winter months and samples cannot be taken. A sampling kit was provided to each group. The testing results were submitted digitally to Water Rangers.

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INSTALLING PRECIPITATION GAUGES​

8 precipitation gauges were distributed to 8 individuals with dispersed locations so as to not collect recurrent data. Those provided with gauges installed these gauges in their backyards and performed daily readings and recordings of the precipitation (rain and snow) measurements and submitted the data digitally to CoCoRaHS. The image to the left is a precipitation gauge - precipitation accumulates within the gauge and the role of participants is to read the level to which it has been accumulated.

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WORKSHOPS​

In November and February, we will organize two indoor workshops for participants, each lasting 2 hours. The workshops will teach participants about how the data they have collected play a role in protecting their community and local watershed. One workshop will be mainly centered around their data’s impact on climate change, and the other will be about watershed protection.

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ADDITIONAL NOTES

• There is a chance that we will create a dashboard to display the data that has been collected by participants on our website (likely using Google My Maps). 

• If participants would like a challenge, we can have them perform an analysis on the data that has been collected or data that has been collected by other volunteers.