Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility
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Outreach Program to Train Local High School Students in Stream Gaging and Data Collection
Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF) Chief Eugene C. Hayes, and Slidell High School Principal Joseph C. Buccaran, signed a Partnerships in Education Agreement, December 9, 1996, in front of the students and teachers of the Ecology and Engineering Academies at Slidell High School and two members of the USGS-HIF Outreach Team. The agreement is for a minimum three-year collaboration providing the school with available and feasible USGS resources; promoting an interest in physical science careers; enriching the school curriculum with USGS missions and initiatives; and furthering superior education for individual students of the Ecology and Engineering Academies of Slidell High School. To obtain this goal, the HIF plans to provide interaction between the students and faculty of the academies with available USGS resource personnel in the scientific, technical and administrative fields.The three-year program begins with the sophomore students in the academies. The first year includes an introduction to the many phases of earth sciences covered by the USGS, the functions of the HIF, and an outline of the Partnerships in Education program planned for the school. The students will take a field trip to the USGS facilities at John C. Stennis Space Center. Starting in January and ending in May, HIF and other USGS employees with make presentations to the students, explaining their job functions, educational backgrounds and skills. The students will also participate in a Career Shadowing Day, when they are allowed to follow employees for several hours on the job to see the work they do.
Chief, HIF (left) and Joseph C. Buccaran, Principal, Slidell High School, sign the Partnerships in Education Agreement.
In the second year of the program, the students will be instructed on stream gaging, discharge measurements, and data collection techniques. The students will collect data on water level, rainfall and possibly water quality. This unique program will give students hands-on training. Currently, the USGS has an inactive gaging station located near the high school. The USGS office in Baton Rouge originally installed the gaging station but removed all equipment after project completion. Under this agreement, the HIF will install state-of-the-art equipment for the students to maintain and operate. This gaging station will give the students the chance to perform functions similar to those currently made within the Survey's data collection program. The students will maintain, operate, and obtain data from the gaging station, and present their collected data to the City of Slidell.
In the third year of the program, HIF employees will perform career mentoring with the seniors. The mentor will be matched with a student, who has a common interest in a career or technology, for approximately six hours every week. The student will work with the mentor and develop individual projects related to their job training. The mentor also will serve as a role model and demonstrate acceptable work habits and attitudes.
The establishment of an outreach program is a high priority for the U.S. Geological Survey which hopes to inform the public of the work performed and the methods, and benefits. In an effort to fulfill the Survey's request, the HIF will soon offer an invitation to participate in the program to schools in St. Tammany Parish and in the Mississippi Gulf Coast counties. Participation in the program can be as simple as distributing USGS pamphlets and brochures, and can be as involved as providing speakers at schools, giving slide show presentations on the agency or performing demonstrations of equipment used.
Chief, HIF (left) presents a plaque commemorating the signing of the Partnerships in Education agreement to Joseph Buccaran.
Two members of the HIF Outreach Team (from left, Ed Ford and Joanne Jones) stand with Chief, HIF, and Joseph Buccaran after the ceremony.
Return to Outreach Activites with Slidell High School
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://wwwhif.er.usgs.gov/public/outreach/outrch.htm
Page Contact Information: HIF Web Support Team
Page Last Modified:
06 Feb 2008
