News from Nahant Marsh

By: Brian Ritter

Over the past year, Nahant Marsh has been an extremely busy place. Many new and exciting programs and projects have been implemented over the past year, therefore pushing the attendance to record levels, over 5,800 during FY2010, with thousands more being reached through festivals and special events offsite. Also, several “discoveries” over the past month have added strength to the argument that the Nahant area is a special place worth saving.
In September 2009, Nahant implemented a monthly science program for homeschooled children. The program, for kindergarteners to 9th graders, focuses on teaching students about the environment and new technologies in the natural setting of Nahant Marsh. Each month, there is a different theme, to reflect the changes in the natural world.
Also in 2009, Eastern Iowa Community College District agreed to re-start their Conservation Technology and offer classes at Nahant Marsh. The program has grown in popularity since last fall, with over 20 students now enrolled. In addition, the program has partnered with Western Illinois University to create a unique 3-year fast-track option for students interested in completing both there A.S. and B.S. degrees in a short amount of time.
During the summer of 2010, over 130 children took part in Renewable Energy and Conservation day camps at Nahant Marsh. With activities ranging from solar boat building and solar cooking to canoeing, children from around the Quad Cities metro area had a chance to experience a variety of activities that they would not normally have access to. Hundreds of more children were reached through other special events at the marsh. In addition, children were able to observe the construction and installation of a new greenhouse that will be fully powered by a wind turbine and solar panels. The greenhouse project will also be a teaching area for adults interested in learning about energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
Teachers also had the opportunity to take part in educational activities at Nahant Marsh this past summer. Several Davenport Community School District Science teachers took part in a new project with ATEEC, Nahant Marsh, and the University of Iowa in which they are developing hands-on experiential learning techniques to implement into their classroom curriculum.
Finally, over the past month, researchers and workers at Nahant have re-discovered some rare species in the area. Turtle research being conducted at the marsh confirmed that there is a population of the rare Blanding’s Turtle still surviving in the area. Also, a population of the rare earleaf false-foxglove was observed blooming on site. In addition, at neighboring Credit Island, another rare plant, the rose turtlehead, was found in bloom.