On Earth Day morning, students from Immanuel Lutheran School and Thomas Jefferson Elementary School came to Thorgren Basin on Roosevelt Road in Valpo to get some hands-on education.
The Thorgren Basin was built a few years back to collect and filter storm water, reduce flooding, and remove pollutants from water before releasing it into the watershed. The kids were invited to come and learn about their environment
"Today we are meeting with the kids to talk to them about Earth Dy about about the Thorgren Basin that was created two years ago," Adam McAlpine said. "We also have other important environmental benefits that the kids need to know about."
Mayor Jon Costas took some time to stop by and speak with the kids, and Culver's mascot Scoopie as well as mascot Splashy were there to hang out with the kids. After Mayor Costas spoke, persimmon trees were planted. Volunteers from the classes helped shovel and pack the soil around the saplings. Persimmon trees live between 40 and 80 years old so the kids can look at these trees that they helped plan for many years to come and relive the memory.
The kids were the separated into seven groups and each group went to different stations that were set up around the basin. The stations were manned by people employed by the city who talked with the kids on different topics like invasive plants, the benefits of trees, water quality and sampling, macroinvertebrates (insects in their larval form, crayfish, clams, snails, and worms), the importance of water quality, and other interesting topics.
The "World's Largest Vacuum" could be viewed that day. The Vactor 2100 Plus combination sewer cleaner was parked by the basin and everyone had a chance to see it up close. And everyone also got a chance to plant something. Hibiscus and other pretty plants are now safe in the ground thanks to the green thumbs of these students.
Not only was this a learning experience for the children, Josh Bachman, Principal at Immanuel Lutheran was one of many adults that accompanied the students on the trip.
"This will give Immanuel students to see how we can be good stewards of God creations and take care of the things that were entrusted to us," Bachman said.