b'Joanne DouglasProtecting our rivers, lakes, and streamsJoanne Douglas in rowboats and kayaks. They test the water for has long been germs such as bacteria. She talks to them about fascinated by thehow trash harms the fish and plants. Back on land, connections betweenshe teaches art and science lessons that help rivers and the plantsconnect students to the water in other ways. and animals that liveOn Saturdays during the summer, Bartrams Garden below their surface.offers a free public boating program. The student Now, shes helpinginterns take groups of visitors out on the water using young people explorea fleet of rowboats and kayaks.our valuable water-ways and learn howDuring the other months of the year, Ms. Douglas to protect them.leads training and activities for a smaller group of Ms. Douglas love of nature and the environmentstudents. She helps them learn how to advocate began in her childhood. She often played near thefor better care of the waterways. For instance, the rivers in Detroit and Philadelphia, the cities shestudents worked with Bartrams volunteers to write grew up in.a letter to the Pennsylvania Department of Environ-mental Protection that included the results of their Being near water all of the time, I was very testing for bacteria. In the letter, the students asked curious, she says. The water is dark. I cant seestate officials to do more testing of the Schuylkills the bottom. I have never stopped being curiouswater quality.about what life is like in the river. Starting the Youth River Program is something IToday, she shares her knowledge and curiosityam really proud of, she says. about rivers and other waterways with visitors toSince the program was launched in 2017, students Bartrams Garden, a 45-acre historic site locatedhave spent a lot of time exploring the Schuylkill. along one of Philadelphias rivers, the Schuylkill. Theyve learned such things as how to row a boat, Ms. Douglas works there as manager of the Water- how water moves through the city, and how litter shed Interpretation and Youth River Program.and other trash can pollute the water.During the summer, Ms. Douglas runs a six-weekOne of Ms. Douglas goals is to make sure that all paid internship program for 10 to 15 high schoolthe visitors to Bartrams Garden are informed about students. She takes the students out on the river12'