Stream Monitoring/Insect Collections

Volunteers are needed to help collect aquatic insects in local waterways.

• Who: Anyone interested and able to navigate creeks and waterbanks. No prior knowledge or experience necessary!
• What:
  • Collectors – wear waders and go into the water to collect insects with nets
  • Pickers – stay bankside and pick insects out of buckets and nets to put into jars for later identification
  • Runners – stay bankside and exchange nets and buckets for Collectors and Pickers
•  When:
  • First Sunday in May 
  • First Sunday in October
  • Typically from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM 
• Where: Lawrence River Park off of Paw Paw Street in Lawrence on the Paw Paw River
• Why: the insects living in water tell us a lot about how healthy the water is.

Each role is important and volunteers have the option of what they would like to do at the collection site. Team Leaders are there at each site to assist. All materials and equipment necessary are provided.