Day 3: Dragonflies, Data, and a Little Bit of Karaoke

Today was full of discovery—both scientific and creative.

We spent the morning with Rangers Heather and Kerry participating in the Community Science Dragonfly Mercury Project, and Cattail Pond did not disappoint. With water shoes on and nets in hand, we waded into the shallows and collected over 20 viable dragonfly larvae, each one a tiny, wriggly piece of the puzzle in understanding mercury pollution in aquatic ecosystems. Along the way, we uncovered a whole cast of other macroinvertebrates—and even met an adorable little frog who seemed pretty interested in our research.

This project is more than just pond scooping. It’s a nationwide initiative helping scientists study mercury levels in the environment, and being part of that effort gave us a real sense of purpose. Small bugs. Big impact.

Our learning continued with our inspiring STEAM in the PARK Ambassadors, who led hands-on sessions in:

🌿 Carbon sequestration and how trees help slow climate change
🎶 Sound mapping, tuning our ears to the wild
🌸 Pollinator journaling, where science meets sketchbooks

We also shared our train karaoke songs from yesterday—there may have been choreography, there was definitely laughter, and there’s a strong chance a few of us missed our calling on Broadway.

We wrapped up the day painting tiny reflections in our Altoid tins, capturing snapshots of our experiences in acrylic paint.

From wetland science to wild creativity, Day 3 had it all. We’re learning, laughing, and leaning into every moment together.