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This and That:
I wasn’t inspired recently with an idea to write about, so here are a few tidbits:
- My monthly articles are part of QA. They give helpful information about monitoring, data, stream ecology, etc. An article I wrote a month or two ago about clearing out a flowing path in your creek if debris is preventing it from flowing was helpful to at least a couple of you. Thank you for your comments to let me know it was helpful. I try to give out seasonal information you can use right here and now.
- Please keep up with your monthly or semi-monthly monitoring. The data you generate might be the only information about that creek or site. Creeks can certainly change seasonally, but we won’t know that if you don’t monitor at least seasonally. Monthly monitoring will get you more familiar with your site and you’ll be tuned in if there is something ‘off’ about it. Monitoring monthly increases your chances of observing something that might go wrong at your site, and the more data you can generate the more valuable the data. If people routinely see someone on site they might think differently about the creek and hopefully stop one day to ask you what you are doing. (This leads me into my next tidbit).
- Wear your Blue Thumb t-shirt/uniform proudly! It makes you a walking advertisement for caring about the environment. When you are out monitoring and someone does ask you what you are doing, you can point to your shirt and tell them about Blue Thumb.
We thank you for monitoring and please keep letting people know what Blue Thumb is about: Stream Protection Through Education. You may be the only person who has ever talked to them about nonpoint source pollution and what they can do about it.
Kim Shaw
Blue Thumb QA Officer
The Perfect Education Day?
As Blue Thumb staff members consider what they might write about for our e-newsletter, From the Water’s Edge, we have two primary considerations; is it relevant for our volunteers, and can we effectively communicate it in the written word? My choice to share with you is a recent experience with students at the creek.
The creek is Spring Creek in Cherokee County. The students were 7th and 8th graders from the wee community of Tenkiller. We teaching adults offered three stations – EnviroScape, Creek Life, and local monitoring efforts. Blue Thumb handled EnviroScape and Creek Life, and a local landowner who loves Spring Creek did the monitoring portion.
These three stations seemed to me to be perfect. The students showed up ready to listen and ready to participate. The benthic macroinvertebrates and fish were easily captured and the diversity was good. The day was beautiful and some kids actually took “creek exploration” time to a deeper level by fully getting themselves wet from head to toe!
Three cheers for the Spring Creek Coalition for making sure students come to the stream to learn. It is these types of experiences that set the foundation for young people to grow up to be stewards of the earth. And considering such – have you thought about inviting Blue Thumb to work with local citizens at your creek? If this thought is inviting to you, please get in touch.
My Monarch 2.0
Maybe some of you read my article “My Monarch” in last month’s e-newsletter. Here is an update: I have had a good number of Monarch caterpillars eating my common milkweed! I have one chrysalis that I am watching like a hawk. There are probably more of these in other places in my yard, but I have found one.
Stay tuned to learn about the success (hopefully) of the chrysalis. Right now it is peacefully hanging there with HOPEFULLY a butterfly cooking its way to adulthood.
Cheryl Cheadle
Blue Thumb Volunteer Coordinator
 Photos from Spring Creek experience with Tenkiller students
Hello Blue Thumb volunteers!
My first month with Blue Thumb has been busy, but even more than that, it has been incredible. I cannot even begin to put into words how much of an honor it is to work with this organization. Getting to see firsthand the amount of passion that my fellow BT staff and our volunteers (YOU!) have for the health of our waters is simply amazing. That spirit is making a difference and is contagious, so keep it up!
I would like to extend a huge thank you to Rebecca, Cheryl, Kim, and Candice for sharing their wisdom and their time to teach me all things Blue Thumb. I think my brain has grown three sizes bigger with all the knowledge I have gained from working with them! Also, their welcoming nature and support have made me feel right at home here. I also want to welcome our newest team member, Jack! It has been great getting to know him during his first week, and I already know he is going to do great things. I’m excited to continue to learn from and work with this team!
As I reflect on my first month, I’m filled with gratitude for the opportunity to be part of such a dedicated community. Each day has reinforced my belief in the vital work we do to protect and preserve our precious waters. Together, we can continue to make a meaningful impact. Here’s to many more months of learning, growing, and making a difference together!
Hunter Hodson
Blue Thumb Field Education Coordinator
 Hello, my name is Jack Hilgert and I am brand-new to the Blue Thumb team as of October 1st. In my new role as the Environmental Education Coordinator, I will be the new Oklahoma State Coordinator for Project WET and Project WILD. My life’s passion is building the capacity of educators, schools, and organizations to ensure a continuum of high-quality, non-biased environmental learning experiences for youth; I am so very privileged to be joining the excellent team at the Conservation Commission where I can align this to the agency’s goals and needs of Oklahoma.
While I am brand-new to Oklahoma, I have been doing environmental education for many years in various capacities. Growing up, I was exposed to a wide range of animals and habitats at the world-class Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. Thanks to my supportive parents, I became a zoo volunteer in the 5th grade where my spark was lit for environmental education. During my first training, I experienced the activities “Web of Life” from Project Learning Tree, “A Grave Mistake” from Project WET, and “Oh, Deer!” from Project WILD.
After graduating high school, the Omaha zoo hired me as a Zoo Instructor. While studying Fisheries and Wildlife at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, I expanded my horizons with internships at Riverside Discovery Center and Zoo, Sunset Zoo, and Lincoln Children’s Zoo. It was during the fall of 2018 that I was first trained in Project Learning Tree, Project WET, and Project WILD in an environmental education course. Prior to coming to Oklahoma, I served as the State Coordinator for Project Learning Tree and Project WET for four years in Nebraska.
After connecting with Anthony Paschall (Oklahoma Project Learning Tree) and Candice Miller and hearing about the great potential for growth with the Conservation Commission and Blue Thumb, I could not turn down the amazing opportunity to join my new team. I have already met so many amazing environmental educators and conservation advocates during my brief time here. I look forward to meeting and collaborating with many of you as I get more acquainted with my new state, and working together to provide the education we need for the world we want throughout the great state of Oklahoma.
Do not hesitate to reach out to me via email or phone, jack.hilgert@conservation.ok.gov, (405) 613-3835. Happy Fall!
Jack Hilger
Blue Thumb Environmental Education Coordinator
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