Lake Roosevelt Schools' SHARP Kids program, which includes academic as well as hands-on activities, will continue for another five years after receiving a grant that will fund the program with approximately $270,000 a year via the 21st Century grant. 

"Through the efforts of a substantial number of people in our school and community, and outside of our community (including grant writer Joyce Garrett out of Wenatchee), we were awarded the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant," said Nancy Kuiper, who heads the program for LR. 

Kuiper said the future of the before- and after-school program for students from kindergarten through 12th grade includes enrichment activities and hands-on projects based on the theme "The River," and intends to improve reading, math, and social skills for an anticipated 200 students, led by about 16 staff members.

Topics in The River theme include: plants and animals, geology and geography, history and culture, and science and economics.

"Students in grades K-12 and their teachers will engage in outdoor science education and explore scientific practices through real-world research projects. ... The next five years are packed with activities," Kuiper said, noting participation from the National Parks Service, The River Mile Program, the Colville Confederated Tribes, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Washing State University's 4-H extension, the Foster Creek Conservation District, Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), IDAH2O, as well as community members.

The IDAH2O Master Water Steward program trains volunteers for eight hours to become certified IDAH2O "master water stewards," after which they adopt a stream location to monitor regularly, Kuiper explained. "Monitoring includes habitat, biological, chemical and physical assessments."

"Groups will become intimately familiar with their outdoor classroom by spending time in the field investigating and researching the Columbia River watershed systems," Kuiper said.   "Fieldwork associated with plants and animals includes study of the local crayfish population (data will be submitted on the River Mile website) and salmon. Working with the Foster Creek Conservation District, students will participate in a project to create habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators. Students will learn about native and introduced plants; they will learn how native plants are used by members of the local tribes. They will learn also about noxious weeds and how to help eradicate/control them."

Students will also be learning about the floods that defined the geography of the region.

"Our community is in an area carved out by the Missoula Floods that occurred at the end of the Ice Age," Kuiper continued. "Students will learn about the competing hypotheses that explain the floods and the Hanford Formation and interglacial calcretes and clastic dikes. Students will take to the field to observe the many different land and water formations left in the wake of the floods. On the Ice Age Floods Road Tour they will discover places like Dry Falls, Sun Lakes, Jamison Lake, Kettle Falls, Lake Lenore Caves, and the Ice Age Floods National Geographic Trail."

Learning about a river also includes history and economics. 

"Our students will learn about the history of the river and ways in which cultures and communities, past and present, are shaped by rivers," Kuiper said. "Students will learn how the river supports local, regional, state, and national economies and about the kinds of 21st Century careers associated with the river-engineers, hatchery workers, computer techs, fishermen, maintenance crew, tugboat and barge operators, river pilots, and so many more." 

Becoming familiar with some modern technology also factors into the program, including using professional-grade instruments to record and report data, including drones.

Students will use traditional orienteering and global positioning systems, measure the age, girth and height of trees, test soil and water acidity, temperature, and search for microorganisms. "These students will get their hands dirty, their boots scuffed, and their hair mussed," Kuiper said. "They will be trekked, tested, and tired. They will be engaged and never forget these experiences. They will learn to be global citizens who steward the earth for the future."

Kids are not the only class of students who will benefit from the program.

"We are also offering 20 weeks of parent classes based on parent-selected topics such as: How to Enter My Child's Academic World, Complete Health and Wellness, Financial Literacy and Planning, and Strengthening Families," Kuiper said. 

The program is both before and after school. 

"For the students there will be a morning Recreation, Reading and Math club from 7-8 a.m. and after-school programming from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.," Kuiper said.  

Transportation home after school is provided for the students. 

The program is also looking for community involvement. 

"Perhaps some part of this program has stirred your interest and you would like to join the adventure," Kuiper wrote. "Perhaps you would like to offer your knowledge of a skill, share a talent, tell stories, recount history, read with children, engage in recreational activities, go on field trips or assistance other leaders. We also have positions open for hire if you would like to participate in a more consistent way."

Kuiper can be reached at 509-631-3149 with thoughts, questions, ideas, or concerns or for more information.

"Please do not hesitate to call," she said.