Flint Southwestern Academy High School and Montrose’s Kuehn-Haven Middle School students are leading environmental protection for local vernal pools through restoration and habitat protection in the Flint River watershed. Explore how schools have worked with community partners to meet conservation and watershed protection goals, how efforts have been funded, and how career connections have been made for students. Learn about project elements including duck nesting boxes, native/invasive species, Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) Vernal Pool Patrol Program details, macroinvertebrates, and cross curricular/grade level planning. Participants will be outdoors the entire time, standing and walking on mostly even ground, with occasional uneven grassy areas. Restrooms will be available inside the schools or during the drive between locations if needed. Please reach out to conference@maeoe.com with any questions or accessibility requests. Locations: Flint Southwestern Academy, 1420 W 12th St., Flint, MI 48507 and Kuehn-Haven Middle School, 302 Ray St., Montrose, MI 48457 Time: Friday, October 2 from 8:30a.m. to 11:30a.m. Arrival and Transportation Details: Meet at Field Experience Location 1 at the UM-Flint Riverfront Conference Center (1 Riverfront Plaza, Flint, MI 48502) by 8:30a.m. The car caravan will leave at 8:35a.m., visit both school locations, and return to the Conference Center by 11:30a.m.