What's New
This summer, students in the WHIRL (Water and Habitat on the Indian River Lakes) program rolled up their sleeves, jumped into boots and boats, and explored the Indian River Lakes region through the lens of environmental science. WHIRL continues to offer students hands-on opportunities to connect with local ecosystems, explore real-world conservation efforts, and learn directly from professionals in the field.
WHIRL on Wheels
The first week, students explored the entire Indian River Watershed to see how it gradually changes in width, depth and thus in use. Students gathered data on physical and chemical changes that occur as the water is impacted by increased human use. From military to agricultural to power supply to recreation, students saw first hand the ways we impact the entire Indian River Lakes region.
Mat Webber, from Izaac Walton League of America and Tom Hughes from NYS Parks spent one day diving deeply into assessing water quality through bioassessments of macroinvertebrates and seining for fish diversity. When they rounded out the day angling for fish, many WHILRers caught their very first ever!
From the River to the Classroom—Learning in Action
One of the most exciting days of the summer took place on the St. Lawrence River when students partnered with Save The River on their Floating Classroom. From the deck of a research vessel to the shoreline of Governor’s Island, students participated in immersive lessons at the Thousand Islands Biological Station.
There, they worked side-by-side with professors, SUNY ESF student interns, and recent graduates on a variety of ecological topics—including a deep dive into the Muskellunge Recovery Program. Students learned about the life cycle of this legendary fish, helped monitor rearing tanks, and even handled both native and invasive fish species as part of their studies. Beyond biology, college students gave valuable advice on high school coursework that can help prepare for majors in environmental science and related careers.
Back on shore, a DEC specialist introduced students to the complexities of oil spill response, while Save The River interns led additional lessons on invasive and native mussels, aquatic plant identification through rake throwing, and chemical water testing to monitor river health.
Local Issues, Local Experts
WHIRL participants also spent time at Boyd Pond, where they studied the persistent problem of algae blooms. Retired Indian River High School math teacher Kevin McCarthy, who also owns land on nearby Lake of the Woods (where Boyd Pond empties), walked students through the real-world impact of water quality on homeowners and ecosystems alike. Together, they discussed our past attempts to mitigate the HABs in Boyd Pond by partnering with NYS DEC in tagging and releasing large mouth bass to decrease the minnow population. Students explored future options, identifying specialists who would need to advise the IRLC on the best solutions.
Fighting Invasives with SLELO PRISM
Another key lesson this summer involved tackling invasive water chestnut, a fast-spreading aquatic plant that chokes waterways and harms native species. In partnership with SLELO PRISM, students participated in an active pull, removing plants and seeing firsthand the impact that community science can have on preserving local waterways.
Leading the Way
This year’s WHIRL program was led by two passionate and dedicated educators Andrea Inserra and Mike Pierce:
Andrea—“Dre” to students and friends—brought her trademark enthusiasm and commitment to environmental learning, continuing to shape young minds even after 32 years in the classroom.
Looking back on what lead to the development of WHIRL and how it links to Andrea’s involvement she stated: “we are looking for water on other planets to see whether or not they can sustain life. How about keeping an eye on our own water?” When Andrea learned about WHIRL she knew it was the right place for her: “when we [herself and students] were swimming in Lake Ontario I told the kids a Microchip Company is planning to build in Clay, NY. That is upstream from where we were swimming. The company wants to discharge their waste water into Lake Ontario.” Their reaction: “NO! Everything downstream from that point will be impacted by their waste.” It is these powerful moments of thought in youth that keeps Andrea involved in WHIRL and wanting to continue this important work.
Powered by Partnerships
WHIRL is a free program, though it costs approximately $300 per student to run. We couldn’t do this without our generous sponsors and community support. Thank you Cross Island Farms, The Enchanted Edible Forest, and Stewarts Shop for your continued support of this program.
A huge shout out goes to Con Tech Building, whose support made it possible to provide transportation for this year’s WHIRL students. Thanks to their help, more students were able to access these unique outdoor experiences than ever before.
Keep the Wonder Alive
Megan Sorenson, shared her thoughts on WHIRL and how WHIRL and other IRLC programs keep the wonder alive:
” As a military family new to the area, we are so incredibly thankful for the IRLC and the way their programs have helped us feel at home here. My teenage son had the opportunity to attend the WHIRL program this July, and it exceeded every expectation. A month-long, totally free day camp where teens are out in the community learning about conservation and stewardship? It’s truly remarkable. These are values we’ve always tried to instill in our children, but having those lessons echoed by mentors outside the family—especially during the teen years—is invaluable. We’re deeply grateful to IRLC for offering such meaningful opportunities to local youth and for being a powerful presence in this community.”
As we wrap up this season of WHIRL, we hope every student walked away with new skills, new knowledge, and a deeper appreciation for the Indian River Lakes region. Whether handling fish, identifying plants, or running water quality tests, each student took part in protecting and understanding our shared natural heritage.