Skye ’25, works with young campers in her community to educate them on blue-green algae and the harmful effects it has on the Finger Lakes.
Every summer, swimming areas across the Finger Lakes close due to blue-green algae, a harmful algal bloom. Blue-green algae is caused by fertilizer runoff. The Finger Lakes is filled with wineries and crop farms which cause the runoff of fertilizer into the lakes. Blue-green algae can cause rashes in humans and death in dogs. When the algae strikes, swimming areas close, hindering most fun summer activities at local parks. The lakes are an integral part of the community and a natural treasure we all relish. As a lifeguard and lover of lake days, I find it to be incredibly important to educate my community on blue-green algae and the harmful effects it has on our lakes.
With the Cayuga Nature Center, located in Ithaca, NY, I have been teaching young campers about blue-green algae. The first of four sessions was held on July 12. It is planned that I will come into the camp to teach young learners bi-weekly this summer. I hold experiments with the kids, and I allow them to see the effects of blue-green algae themselves. During these experiments, students can test water samples from three different locations of Cayuga Lake. Students test to find the amount of pH, phosphate, oxygen, and temperature levels in the different samples. Students have been given a variety of testing equipment such as testing strips and level-detecting technology to determine the characteristics of the water.
My first sessions with the campers were amazing. During this session, I taught two groups of students with ages ranging from 6 to 12 years old. Each student had heard of blue-green algae yet only one out of the 20 students knew what it was. Students shared excitement when testing the water and watching pH detecting strips turn from yellow to green.
Overall, the campers displayed a great interest in the subject of blue-green algae. For many of them, some of the testing equipment that they had used was a new experience for them. The students were able to gain a better grasp of blue-green algae, and further understand how it hinders the amazing culture of the Finger Lakes.
