River Reflections at the University of Dayton

Tech Town and Litehouse

2012-02-04T17:17:00.000-08:00

Hello, all!
Friday night the junior cohort went on an excursion to tour Tech Town and a Litehouse spec home! I think I can speak on behalf of my entire cohort in saying that we all thought both places were AWESOME!

We visited Tech Town first, and we were all completely inspired by the work that is being done for the city of Dayton. First off, all of their buildings are extremely environmentally friendly; they have a green roof on one of the buildings, rain gardens, building materials made from recycled products, etc. They are also doing fantastic things for the city of Dayton! I have very limited business knowledge, but from what I gathered, they are basically helping businesses with a focus on technology get started, and then hopefully growing them into their own seperate business that functions as part of the Tech Town "network."

After Tech Town, we ventured over to tour a Litehouse spec home! I was so impressed with Litehouse because they have done an incredible job offering people an environmentally sound alternative to housing. Each unit is designed using natural light, recycled products, environmentally friendly materials, and energy efficient utilities and appliances. Behind the Litehouse units, there is a community garden that is for all those in the surrounding houses to use, as well. The best aspect of the unit is the terrace on top! The unit that we saw had a beautiful view of the city and Riverscape! I was completely in love with the unit, and I highly recommend you take a tour if you ever get the chance.

Seeing both Tech Town and the Litehouse unit was a very optimistic experience. It was great to see two very successful programs working toward a similar mission as the River Stewards, and hopefully we will see more success stories such as these in the future!

Have a great week!
Amy Price

Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie

2012-01-24T18:37:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone! It's so great to be back from break and start a new semester with all of the wonderful River Stewards! To those of us co-oping and studying abroad - we miss you!

Last semester was such an amazing experience - I don't think I can fully describe it without going on FOREVER. I am so grateful to be a River Steward, with such amazing people, in such a beautiful region of the Midwest, with so many opportunities to embrace new ideas and actions in the community. Wow, that sounds so... official. But it's true and probably the only way I can sum it up without using the same four adjectives over and over. :)

If any of you are UD students or faculty or staff or currently residing in the Dayton area, you may know about Friday Night Films at ArtStreet. The line-up for this semester is awesome (Connected and The Help and I'm Not There, anyone?), but the film that particularly caught my eye was Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie, which will be screened on Friday, March 30 in ArtStreet Studio B at 9pm. It's a very cool-looking documentary about David Suzuki, a Canadian geneticist and professor who is known for his work in sustainable ecology. David Suzuki has a lot to teach us about the environment and our human impact on it. I'm very excited to see it, and I hope you'll consider seeing it, too!

River Love,
Liz

Force of Nature Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMKQBjgE0Tw

David Suzuki Foundation: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/

RLC Update

2012-01-19T09:41:00.001-08:00

The Fall 2011 semester ended successfully. Each student proposed a project that would be implemented on campus or in the community. The projects addressed the disciplines that were covered during the class and called on the students to assume leadership roles. A few of the projects proposed implementing low impact development techniques on campus and in the Dayton community, others focused on educating children in different Dayton communities on Dayton's rivers, watershed, and natural resources, and other projects proposed creating programs on campus that would expose other UD students to Dayton's rivers. We were very happy with the progress of the students throughout the semester as well as the final product of their projects.

Thank you to all the community partners and faculty members that helped make the semester such a success!

This semester, Spring 2012, students will carry out some of the projects that were proposed in the fall. Each student will have a deliverable by the end of the semester and may present their project at the Stander Symposium and the River Summit.

Check back on this blog for more updates on the progress of this semester's RLC.

2012-01-18T09:25:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!

I am studying abroad this semester in Rome. I am going to miss being close to my river steward family. However, I hope that everyone will keep me informed with what is going on in Dayton and with The Rivers Institute.

The picture to the left is of the Tiber River, which is right across the street from the school I am attending. I plan to learn more about the Tiber to compare how the people in Italy use the river in comparison to how the people of Dayton use the numerous rivers that surround it. I hope everyone had a nice break and has a good spring semester.
ciao

What a Semester Apart has Taught me

2012-01-09T08:31:00.000-08:00

Reflecting back on this semester I realized that River Stewards is a larger part of my life than I thought. Since I was Co-oping this semester I was not able to attend many of the River Steward activities. Though I was apart form the River Steward family for the entire semester I still was able to be apart of what my cohort was doing. It showed me how well our cohort works together. I was filled in on what went on in cohort meetings and got to have a say in picking our senior project. While co-oping it gave me time to reflect on what I plan on doing once I am done with school. With River Stewards I am able to reach out and connect with the community, bond with my cohort, and be exposed to issues that I have become passionate towards. All these are traits and characteristics that I want to be part of my career as an engineer or any other profession I chose. I knew this from the start, but by being a Stew it has only made it more clear to me as individual that I want my career and lifestyle to be molded around the beliefs and characteristics of River Stewards. And I cant wait for spring semester to start so I can be with my cohort and fellow River Stews once again!

Reflections on the Past Year

2012-01-06T09:57:00.001-08:00

One of the things I like to do at the beginning of each year is to sit down and reflect on the year that just passed. As I did this, I realized just how much being a River Steward influenced my year and how much I enjoyed it. Without a doubt, some of my favorite memories involve my fellow River Stewards; and seeing that I wasn't a River Steward until August, I think that certainly says a lot.

The school year started with the infamous River Stewards Orientation. On the first day all the Baby Stews were introduced to each other, and though I already knew some of them, we were all fast friends thanks to bonding activities that involved 16 people standing on a block smaller than 2 ft X 2 ft and carrying each other across about 15 ft. Once all the Baby Stews knew each other, we were introduced to the older Stews, and the fun just continued. Eventually came the day of the paddle, and with it came the fun of casually drifting down the river (with or without a boat), all the Baby Stew guys having to jump out of their boat thanks to a lost bet, or singing Wagon Wheel by the fire with everyone.

Later on in the year came another fun paddling adventure when the Baby Stews went on our own paddle on Halloween weekend. With everyone dressed from Huckleberry Finn to a voyageur (I hope I spelled that right, Connie) to the Grim Reaper, we headed down the river for the first time as a cohort by ourselves, and this was truly an adventure. At one point, we even just pulled the kayaks over and went exploring (above are a couple photos from it).

All in all, these are just two of the memories that really stick out in my mind when I'm reflecting on the year. Other great memories include going to Wegerzyn Gardens with all the River Stewards, working at the event formerly known as Gearfest and tearing off the old shirts to reveal the new ones with James, and "brainstorming ideas" for next semester.

I can't wait for all the fun i'll have with the River Stewards in the future.

A New Perspective

2012-01-04T15:51:00.000-08:00

Everything is dry. Even the air is dry, suffocating you as you step outside into the sun that burns all year round in this country. Whether the weather is scorching hot or freezin cold, the atmosphere is always arid. Where I come from water is extremely scare. In Chihuahua you can be arrested for watering your plants during certain times of the year and if you're ever caught wasting water, let's say in a water gun fight, you can count on being sanctioned.

I grew up in this city without water. I always saw the fact that I couldn't expect water to come out of the faucet when I turned it on as something normal. I never really took the time to consider the implications of the water issues Chihuahua faces. I never paid attention to Chihuahua's rivers and I was barely even aware of their existence. I guess I've always known that Chihuauha has issues with water, only because I have lived this reality, but I never took the time to think about what this meant, what the causes might be, and what the social, economic, aesthetic, and environmental consequences might be. Being a River Steward has made me look at my birthplace in a different way. During that time I spent in Chihuahua this past winter break, I couldn't drive past my city's rivers without a million thoughts starting in my head.

Becoming a River Steward has changed the way that I look at a lot of things. Before I was a Stew I would have never considered what it means that the Rio Chuviscar has been canalized. This river runs in a straight line through the heart of downtown Chihuahua and no longer has any of its natural banks wherever it runs through urban areas. Surrounded by pavement, its lined with sidewalks instead of trees or greenery. In fact, there isn't much of a river left at all. It's been reduced to a pathetic trickle of water that entirely disappears in some places. The river's lack of a floodplain, among other things, has also caused some serious flooding in the past that has even resulted in the loss of lives. I wonder what the river's health would be like had its natural state been respected and maintained. Another river in Chihuahua is the Rio Sacramento. This river eventually connects with the Rio Chuviscar. Although it's in a much better state, I still wouldn't denote it as healthy.

My experiences at the Rivers Institute have definitely shaped the way that I think and the way that I see my hometown. I am aware of the fact that Chihuahua faces a lot of problems, but its water issues are certainly at the forefront and I am thankful for the new perspective I have gained on these. I am more motivated now to look more into the city's history with its rivers. I want to learn about the city's waste water treatment process and I want to learn where our drinking water comes from. Being a River Steward has shown me that there are a million doors for me to open and it has planted a seed of motivation and thirst for knowledge within me.

Not only has being involved with the Rivers Institute granted me a reformed perspective on Chihuahua and given me new considerations to pursue, I have also learned a great deal about the city of Dayton and its rivers. I've acquired a sense of ownership for the city of Dayton, appreciating all that it has to offer. I'm proud and glad to be living in the city of Dayton. Never before had I appreciated how important and vital rivers can be to a community. Seeing the way Dayton has chosen to embrace its rivers is revitalizing and inspiring.

Being a part of the Rivers Institute has been an incredible opportunity for more reasons than one. I have met a lot of cool people, I've become more environmentally conscious, I have developed new ways of seeing communities, and my appreciation for water has only increased. I remember starting out the semester feeling overwhelmed by all of the river and water terminology that was being thrown at me. I never knew there was so much that went into a water system. A semester of the RLC and being a River Steward have truly expanded my pool of knowledge. But I am excited to grow and learn more as I continue in my journey downstream with the Rivers Institute.

This is the Rio Chuviscar, which runs through the heart of the city and has been canalized where it flows through urban areas.

This is the Rio Sacramento, which runs down the west edge of the city.

Flower Ortega

Let the New Year Ring with River Ramblings!

2012-01-02T16:24:00.000-08:00

December 31st, I celebrated the coming of 2012 sitting around the kitchen table talking with several of my good friends from Chicago. The night was pleasant and surprisingly warm. At one point in the night we simply sat there calmly, feeling the city air waft through the window, until my friend Helen broke the silence with a chirpy question, "So what was everyone's high and low in 2011?"As I pondered what could be my high and low I was surprised at how quickly the high of my year came to mind. I'm the type of person who really likes to think things out and I usually don't make quick decisions. So, after forcing myself to consider some lesser alternatives I knew that without a doubt the best part of my year was becoming a River Steward.

I'm proud of being a River Steward. At every Christmas gathering this year my Aunts and Uncles asked me how school is and I would go straight into a story involving the Rivers Institute. This past semester in Dayton I've met tons of new people and made many new friends. The Cohort of 2014, that I became a part of this year, is comprised of quality students who are all eager to get more involved in the community. The cohorts above have been wonderful role models and I will never forget how welcoming they were to me and the rest of the "Baby Stews" throughout the entire semester. I am constantly being motivated to stay involved on campus and perform my best by the goodness of all my peers.

Ever since I arrived to the University of Dayton as a timid little Freshman my time here has gotten better and better. I attribute this to the increasing number of opportunities I have received, starting with applying to be a River Steward. From the moment I was accepted in to the program I could feel its welcoming nature. Our Orientation Paddle down the Miami River opened my eyes to the true potential of the City of Dayton, the University of Dayton, and my education for the first time. Since then, I have felt blessed with the means to easily get involved with City of Dayton and its surrounding environment. I have been able to Kayak with the Dayton Rotary Club, teach Girl Scouts how to Canoe, Volunteer for Five Rivers Metro Park and watch my fellow River Stewards become involved in and initiate other opportunities such as a Boy Scout paddle down the Great Miami River (that will hopefully take place this summer), teaching special needs students in the Dayton area to Kayak, launching the bike renting program at the Rec Plex, and designing a mobile river museum to teach students in the Dayton area about their watershed. I've also had the privilege of becoming the intern for Ohio's Great Corridor Association (OGCA) , which has allowed me to become even more involved with the Dayton Community. On that note, the only thing that makes me happier than thinking of all the things I have done this semester with the River Stewards is thinking of all the things I will be able to do next semester! So, I write this reflection looking forward to a new year filled with kayaking, River Ramblings (the OGCA newsletter), River Mobiles, and the 5th Annual River Summit! Thank you for reading and supporting the Rivers Institute and your rivers!

Yours with great anticipation,

Connie Reda, Cohort 2014

A River Poem

2011-12-29T18:55:00.000-08:00

I would like to express my River Love in a simple poem.
(Side Note: I apologize for my less-than-fantastic-rhyme-scheme/lack of poetic abilities)

The Stewards of the River, a family, a bond,
We kayak down rivers and teach Girl Scouts in ponds.
We’ve learned how to paddle, to drive the van “safely”,
We’ve camped and we’ve sang, and faced low ropes quite bravely.
We’ve discussed and we’ve researched, we’ve listened and taught,
We’ve been excited, and intrigued, and at times even distraught.

That very first Stew year, we learned and explored,
The Dayton bubble popped, and BOOM-- we found more!
Year two rolled around, and like that we weren’t babies,
But we’ve risen and grown into wise gentlemen and ladies.
And now my cohort ’13, they’re not simply my peers,
They’re my siblings, my collegues, my friends for the years.

And here, the new babies, so eager and bright-eyed,
And those clever seniors, (whose project we high-five!)
Above and below, the middle; all of us,
Together we create our everlasting river love.
And because we’ve learned from each other, and bonded quite well
I wanted to say, thanks river stews! For all being so swell!

Happy New Year and see you all soon!
-Jill ☺

2011-12-28T16:12:00.000-08:00

Over Thanksgiving Break I had the chance to reflect on my River Steward's application completed back in March and must second fellow stew Amy Schultz in saying that applying for the program was one of my better decisions.

Being a River Steward has exposed me to new opportunities and ideas. Through group activities like kayaking, bike riding, and cookie making I have grown very proud of each member in the program. Some of you have shown me faith while others of you have shown me hope but all of you have shown me love and I am ever so indebted and appreciative for it. At this point I realize I have many unreturned favors and am very glad there is still time.

Most especially, the River Stewards program has allowed me to explore Dayton more fully. The frequency with which I have engaged the city has increased tremendously. Gearfest and countless other excursions have taught me the value of community and have led me to critically evaluate my role within such a setting.

Finally, I wish a big thank-you to all of the community members that have made the River Steward experience and RLC course possible including Leslie King and Don Geiger.

It has been a rewarding semester.

Prospero año!
Ashley

River Stewards - A Life Changing Experience

2011-12-25T10:16:00.000-08:00

Applying to be a River Steward was the best decision I made as a freshman at the University of Dayton. I've already gained so much from the program, and it's only been one semester. Looking back on the countless happenings of my brief time as a River Steward, I can honestly say it has been a rewarding experience that I can't wait to continue with.

Coming into the program I hardly knew the majority of my cohort, and never expected us to bond as quickly as we did. After a few days of team building activities and getting to know each other, you'd never guess we were strangers only a couple days prior. It was great to get the opportunity to meet a handful of people with the same interests as me. I'm so thankful for all of the friendships I've made- without River Stewards to bring us together I would have missed out on some great times with some great people (and I can't wait to see what the future holds for the 2014 cohort!!)

I'd say the most rewarding and fondest memory I have from this semester would be the orientation 17 mile paddle. I'd never been kayaking in my life, and was slightly nervous to have to take on such an intimidating task as an amatuer. However, once we got paddling the nerves subsided and I was able to fully relax and enjoy being out in nature. Being from Cincinnati I never had many opportunities in high school to just sit and enjoy what the world has to offer, and being on that paddle brought me back to the nature-appreciating time of my childhood. Getting to spend time with all the river stewards and community partners without the worry of social networks and happens of the outside world was priceless, and an experience I'll always remember. That and spending time around the campfire, paddling through the mega fountains at River Scape, and the feeling of accomplishment after pulling my kayak ashore after the paddle was over.

The Rivers Institute has given me so much in my small time as a River Steward, and I am so excited to move forward and see what the next semesters bring. Anyone who is considering applying for the program should definitely do it - there isn't a better opportunty out there to have so much fun and get involved in the community as being a River Steward is!!!

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!!
Amy Schultz, 2014 Cohort

Girl Scout Canoeing

2011-12-24T18:38:00.001-08:00

River Stewards is always a joy. We really know how to have fun whether were doing service, at a cohort meeting, debating about our senior project or doing a river cleanup in the cold, pouring rain! Teaching the girl scouts to canoe with a bunch of girl river stewards was the most fun, however.

Fourth and fifth grade girl scouts were at a camp doing all sorts of fun camping activities but they were most excited to have older role model-like girls to teach them how to canoe versus their leaders who are with them all the time and moms. We were cool in their eyes. Most of us river stewards were girl scouts in our early years and knew what it was like to be in their shoes, too.

We arrived early on a Saturday morning and although I doubted that I would be very awake seeing that Saturdays are my sleep in days, the cold water, early morning dew, and young energy from the girl scouts woke me up immediately! It was a great morning! They reminded me of when I was young....

The girl scouts were SOO incredibly excited and eager to learn! It was weird to break down for them how to use a paddle, the strokes and how to put a canoe in the water carefully since these things have come so natural to me over the years!

Look at their eager faces...

Oh, okay, maybe that's Jill & Lindsay, the river stewards, but seriously, they were excited....

And a cool cat that loved the water and campers...

So now you understand why this was my favorite activity this semester.
-Kaitlin

Eyes Opened to Dayton's Assets

2011-12-24T11:57:00.000-08:00

I won’t sugarcoat it and tell you that I have always loved the city of Dayton. If you had asked me last year “Hey, do you want to do something downtown tonight?” I probably would have laughed at you. The experiences that I have had my sophomore year through Rivers Stewards and R.E.A.L Dayton has led me to appreciate the beauty of this city and all that it has to offer. Okay, so what does the city of Dayton have to offer? There is an abundance of nature parks, bike paths, entertainment attractions, and a plan for economical uplifting for the downtown area. Discovering all of this during my sophomore year has been exciting and I’m anxious to make an impact on this city in the future.

What is Dayton’s most valuable asset? I’m here to tell you that my favorite asset is the beautiful preserved nature that surrounds, fills, and runs through the city. Let me bring to you one of my fondest memories as a River Steward thus far. It is a beautiful morning in August during the summer orientation paddle. The Miami River is gleaming with a new day’s sunshine. The green banks hold back the forested areas. The river is calm and only the birds are heard this morning. In the far distance you can see Dayton’s skyline, bridges, and highway traffic. Not many cities allow harmony between nature and the city life like that of Dayton. The low dam removal on Monument Avenue in the Miami River will bring recreation to the new white water course planned to replace the low dam.

There are many to thank for Dayton’s clean park system. If you are going to thank someone though, it better be Five Rivers Metro Parks. Five Rivers Metro Parks has preserved 15,000 acres of forests, wetlands, and farmlands. They have installed six bike paths throughout Montgomery County. There are 19 parks for the public to use for recreation. Many of these parks provide the option of camping at no cost to the participant. Twin Valley Park has 22 miles of hiking paths for the adventurer up for the challenge. Five Rivers Metro Parks also has a mountain biking course for the avid bikers out there.
I love the outdoors, but Dayton still has more to offer. This year I have learned about some of the entertainment attractions like Victorian Theatre, Riverscape, the Riverscape Ice Rink, Fifth Third Field, the Second Street Market, and many fine restaurants downtown. I’ve already visited many of these attractions this year but I still have more to see. This winter I hope to make it out to the ice rink at Riverscape. When the weather gets nicer I’m looking forward to getting my friends together to go to a Dayton Dragons game.

I don’t care who disagrees with me, I think we have ourselves a beautiful city in Dayton, Ohio. Now it’s time to draw some more businesses to the area. When rebuilding a city you have to utilize your already grown assets. That is the mission of Tech Town. Tech town was born ten years ago when an unused radiator plant was renovated in Dayton. The space is now used as a campus for technology commercialization: Tech Town. The ultimate goal of Tech Town is to provide an environment for optimal success for businesses that specialize in technology. Tech Town offers consultants in their Wright Patterson Air Force Base and also the University of Dayton Research Institute. Among the benefits of working with Tech Town is a proactive Dayton government. Dayton is looking to add to their 750 businesses, 100 restaurants, bars, night clubs, and art institutes. For more information on the Tech Town plan visit the website http://www.daytontechtown.com/.

Say what you want about the city of Dayton. I feel a part of it. There are some beautiful places in the city. The integration of nature, and outdoor parks within the city provide some sights worth seeing. Entertainment attractions like Fifth Third Field, and an outdoor ice rink provide some excitement for getting downtown. One thing that I really like the most about Dayton is how it builds off of its assets. A river runs through it – lets protect it. There’s 15,000 acres of natural beauty in the area – lets make it accessible. The Dayton Dragons are located downtown –lets showcase them. We need to draw businesses to downtown – lets provide expertise in a field we’re known for: technology. I’m proud to call Dayton my own. I’m excited to see what the future holds for a city that is working hard to elicit its assets.

Merry Christmas all!

-Stephen Crum

From Dayton to Pittsburgh

2011-12-23T19:44:00.000-08:00

Dayton’s rivers hold a lot of importance to the city and the people around them. After spending last semester learning about the conservation of these rivers I thought I’d look and see what Pennsylvania does to promote the awareness and the conservation of its rivers. What I came across was pretty cool. Pennsylvania has been awarding rivers “River of the Year” since 1983. This is the second year that the selection process has been done through a public vote. Basically these nominations and the River of the Year honor are designed to raise public awareness of the selected rivers and to promote the conservation needs and achievements. Last year’s “River of the Year” was awarded to the Delaware River, which is the longest undammed river east of the Mississippi.

After a river is selected, local organizations organize year round activities intended to celebrate and promote the waterway. One of these activities is a sojourn. A sojourn is an extended paddling trip for people who like to canoe, kayak, or simply enjoy the water. The sojourn is aimed at raising awareness of the recreational, environmental, and heritage values of our rivers. The Delaware River sojourn was a weeklong paddle that covered over 80 miles of waterway. Each day there were two programs that were offered that dealt with conservation, recreation, or history of the area.

I thought this sounded kind of like our River Steward orientation paddle. I also thought it would be awesome if this idea were implemented in Ohio and other states. For me, getting on the water was where I felt the most connected. I think that this is a great way to raise awareness and promote recreational value and the importance of the conservation of our waterways.

Happy Holidays!
Allie Rakowski

Semester Reflection

2011-12-23T15:02:00.000-08:00

Before coming to Dayton, I didn't know anything about the city or what it had to offer. I spent most of my time on campus last year because I didn't know what there was outside of the "Dayton bubble." After joining the River Stewards program, the bubble popped and my eyes were opened to what an awesome city Dayton is and how much there is to do. When I look back on this semester, some of my favorite memories are all thanks to the River Stewards program. I have learned and experienced more than I ever thought I would through a co-curricular, and formed friendships with people I most likely would not have met.

The first day of orientation, I was pretty nervous. I did not know anyone, but within 5 minutes my nerves had subsided and I already felt part of the group. By the end of the day, we were already making plans to hang out later that evening, and meet up the next day to walk as a group to Zehler Hall. It isn’t just the 2014 cohort that has this welcoming attitude, but also the older stewards, the community partners, and the graduate students. I have felt at home this semester thanks to all of the incredible people who are part of this program.

There are countless great memories from this semester. From the orientation kayak trip down the Great Miami River and the time we spent in downtown Dayton learning about the history of the Miami Conservancy District and fish shocking to the cold night crammed in a tent with 15 other people at Gear Fest, and all of our mini-courses in between, I can say without a doubt that this semester has been one of the most fulfilling because of the experiences I have had as a River Steward. I am looking forward to next semester and the rest of my time as a Stew and can’t wait to see everyone again in the new year!

A Promising Investment

2011-12-21T19:25:00.000-08:00

After my first semester in the River Stewards 2014 Cohort, I am extremely pleased with the adventures I have experienced, the knowledge I have gained, and the friendships formed. The program has exceeded every single one of my expectations and has helped me view my new hometown, Dayton, in an entirely new light. I do not only feel comfortable with my fellow cohort members, but I feel like I have become a part of one large family including all of the older stewards, graduate students, professors and even some of the community partners. My college experience has seriously transformed in a matter of a semester thanks to my involvement as a River Steward.

My first memory was the 2-day kayak trip down the Great Miami. I only knew a few other students paddling down the river beside me, yet everyone treated each other with both respect and levity. Dayton was the last place I expected to fulfill my needs of being outdoors. The River Stewards provided the perfect venue to enjoy outdoor recreation, especially one of my favorite activities, fishing. Learning about the rivers in the watershed from our mini-courses was responsible for my fishing trips up near Taylorsville Dam where I managed to catch a couple of bass. Our cohort even got a taste of Dayton’s local history with our field trip to Sunwatch Village, a neat historical site I had no idea existed. There are already so many memories to remind me that I have become involved with a program I will be able to cherish for the rest of my college career.

I will admit that the senior class’s Rec Bikes was a great idea, an impressive achievement, and is already a very popular activity on campus. It will certainly be a tough project to compete with, but my cohort has already started brainstorming some ideas about what crazy, fun, and innovative thing we could bring to the UD students. With this being said, I am really looking forward to collaborating with my cohort to bring an imagination to life. The years to come will be filled with service, laughter, adventures, and creativity...I cannot wait! Merry Christmas to everyone, I look forward to seeing you all in January.

Sharing Dayton, EAB, and Mad River

2011-12-21T11:08:00.000-08:00

Hello, all! I hope everybody is having a great start to their Christmas break! I actually started off my Christmas break by going back to Dayton.

Last week I had won tickets to see the Nutcracker at the Schuster Center through DaytonMostMetro.com, so my mom and I went to the Saturday afternoon show. Of course since we were already downtown we had to go to the 2nd Street Market for some Christmas shopping and lunch. We also did a little stroll through the Oregon District. I absolutely love taking people to Downtown Dayton because everybody is always so shocked to find all of the neat things to do. I do believe I have converted my mom into being a believer in Dayton because when I first moved to Dayton she swore it was just the pit of Ohio, and now she says that she wants to live in Dayton.

Last week I also had a very exciting meeting with the solid waste subcommittee for the Environmental Advisory Board where we started the conversation to implement recycling in the Dayton Public Schools. I spent the past semester working at Thurgood Marshall High school, and I noticed that there is no recycling at the school and apparently no recycling at any of the Dayton Public Schools. I mentioned my observation to the Board, and now the subcommittee is looking into the situation with the hopes of getting recycling at the schools! I am really excited about the project, so I will keep you posted!

One last update- this week I went and visited my high school science teacher and he told me about a project through the Ohio EPA (I think) to raise 300 trout that will be released into the Mad River. I am from Bellefontaine, which is pretty close to the start of the Mad River and the Miami river, so my school used to do a lot of projects with the Mad River. My teacher said he is having a hard time getting students interested in helping with the trout project, so I mentioned that I could come in and do a little River Steward presentation about the big picture of the rivers that are so close to home. I will also keep you posted on this project.

Merry Christmas, everybody!
Amy

River Steward Reflection

2011-12-21T09:19:00.000-08:00

This past semester, the Junior 2013 cohort has been working hard to decide on a worthy project we will pursue for senior year. Our group has done a good job of voicing opinions and also compromising to choose a project that we can all be proud of and one that focuses on the mission of the Rivers Institute. I thank the 2012 cohort for doing a supurb job on executing their project, RecBikes, and really inspiring us to make our presence known on campus. I am also so grateful for all that I have learned through mini course and the program. Without this knowledge, I wouldn't even know what issues could be addressed through a senior project. I now feel like we are prepared to use what we have been learning to help others learn as well.
I am also realizing that the people I have met through River Stewards have become some of my closest friends on campus. I truly love how we all interact during our Friday mini course, but also my interactions with stewards outside of the program. I sat next to fellow stews, Allie and McLean in my environmental policy class, and we all did a project together which focused on pollution due to hydraulic fracturing. I really enjoyed working with these girls outside of stewards on a topic that related to things we had learned in stewards. I also had the opportunity to lead REAL Dayton breakout with AJ and Gretchen and absolutely loved hanging out with them outside of class. It was so great to work with stewards in other cohorts because I really hadn't had that opportunity. And now I look forward to living with five other stewards in a sustainability house next year. These are just some of the connections I have made with other stewards and I hope for more to come in the future as we add another cohort to our family. Being a River Steward has meant so much to me in my time at UD and I know that the qualities I am learning through the program and through the Fitz Center will help me in my future career and life.

Merry Christmas!
Nicole

Sustainability House

2011-12-21T08:57:00.000-08:00

This year several River Stewards had the opportunity to live in Sustainability Special Interest Housing. Now many people may think that special interest housing is just a nice way to get a house in the south student neighborhood (“the ghetto”), however our groups made an extreme effort to live in a simple, eco-friendly manner. In addition to leading by example, the four houses (22 students) educated other students about environmental issues through events and dinners (free food always encourages participation :))

I lived in “The Treehouse” at 124 Evanston. Six of us reduced our energy and water usage, line dried our clothes, ate locally, gardened, and composted! We lived without air conditioning for those few tortuous weeks in August and September and have been living with little heat for the past couple weeks. We purchased fresh produce and eggs weekly from our friends at Patchwork Gardens as well as grew our own herbs in a garden that was installed behind our house! We installed rain barrels and a compost bin behind our home to water and fertilize the garden. We also held an event in September where we gave out potted herbs and educated other students about the importance of eating locally!

Next semester we will be involved in planning events for Earth Day as well as working with several groups to decrease campus energy usage and potentially installing a green roof on the KU patio! Also we have recently discovered that next year 6 River Stewards will be residing in the Sustainability Special Interest House at 406 Stonemill!

For more information regarding our house you can check-out our blog - http://seetreehouse.blogspot.com/

Happy Holidays! - Milena

2011-12-20T17:01:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody!

I just wanted to update everyone on the Rivermobile project. The last meeting went really well and Exhibit Design Concepts is hoping to have a final design for us at the end of January.During the meeting we split into two groups made up of both designers and River Stewards and laid out what we thought the inside of the tractor trailer should look like. At the end of the meeting, we compared the two different pictures. It was amazing how similar the two groups' designs were! I am looking forward to continuing to work on this project next semester.

Have a great break! See you in January.

Taylor Pair

Reflection of the Semester

2011-12-19T20:13:00.000-08:00

This semester was another great one to be a river steward! I enjoyed each mini-course and feel like I gained a lot this semester. One particular mini-course that sticks out to me was my cohort's visit to Troy. The City of Troy has done some great things to connect people to the river which include building swings, paths, and the renovation waterside restaurant. The city has many additional plans that are waiting for funding. The actions of the City of Troy give me hope for what we are doing as river stewards. It's great to see others in our corridor striving to create something that will bring members of the community to the river and outdoors. The area we live in is unique and we need to enjoy what Dayton and the surrounding communities have to offer. Being river stewards we are lucky enough to know this, but it's our job to tell others!
Happy holidays! Be sure to take some friends to RiverScape for ice skating next semester!
(More info about Troy can be found at http://www.troyohio.gov/).

Elizabeth Wetzel

Gear Fest

2011-12-19T15:04:00.000-08:00

This dates back to early in the semester but it was one of my favorite River Steward experiences so far. Gear Fest happened on the first weekend of October in Eastwood Metro Park. When we got there is was about 40 degrees and raining while we set up our tents. Personally I didn't do much that first night at gear fest beyond watching the slackliners warm up and eat Monchon, a sandwich cart located usually on the dark side (North Student Neighborhood) on the weekends. That night we slept in the tents and it was so cold that about 15 people slept in the same tent for warmth. In the middle of the night I we were woken up by screams because groundhogs were trying to get up out of their holes and we put the tent right on top of them. The next day after welcoming people in the morning I learned what Gear Fest was all about. I watched people mountain biking, running, kayaking, canoeing, and slacklining.

I went around to the booths set up by local organizations and learned about what outdoor activities they were involved with. I got to watch the national championship of slack-lining and for those of you who don't know what slack-lining is, I placed a clip from Gear Fest below. I tried it myself and accidentally bounced off of it doing a back flip onto my butt. Overall it was an exciting experience and I can't wait to go back to it next year under its new name, Midwest Outdoor Experience.

2011-12-19T13:47:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I took a break from studying for finals and met some of my family members in Columbus to see my cousins art show. Somehow we got on the topic of the Rivers around Columbus and Dayton and I couldn't help but fill them in on how amazing the Rivers and Dams of Dayton are and how clean Dayton's water is. They were so impressed! Also, I told them about the new Rec bikes at the UD rec center. They couldn't believe that a small group of students were able to put such a large program in place on a college campus. While I was talking to them about the Rivers Institute I couldn't help but find myself falling even more in love with Dayton, its Rivers, and the Rivers Institute.

Tackling Teamwork

2011-12-19T09:32:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe that another semester has already gone by for the 2013 cohort! Looking back though, the one word I could use to describe our semester would be "teamwork." Right off the bat with going to Camp Kern for team-building at the low ropes course, we knew this would be a crucial element for our cohort as we began to brainstorm ideas for our Senior Project. Even though we represent a variety of majors and interests, we have been able to come together and get excited over a common goal and vision we see for UD. We are excited to see our idea become a reality over the next semester and we are ready to get creative and share our knowledge and passion with the rest of the UD campus!
Get excited for what 2012 has in store for the River Stewards!
-Ellen C.
2013 cohort River Steward

My Work in the Lab

2011-12-19T09:04:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

These past few weeks I have been working in the lab with my adviser. We have multiple experiments happening at one time but two of them have caught my eye.

Two of his lab leaders are doing experiments based solely around a river and how X affects it. I was invited to lab a bit too late to learn about one of the experiments fully but I do know that she was testing and studying the algae growth at different points in the river. The best part is that I was able to go out into the field, or in this case the river, and get my hands wet in frigid waters.
Now, the other experiment is just now starting and she is studying the relationship between Daphnia and how Honeysuckle affects them.

Next semester I will try to keep my blogs about this experiment with updates and such and hopefully it will be pretty interesting.

And one last thing, when I was getting off the plane someone stopped me and said "Nice shirt" and they were referring to my GearFest shirt. Its pretty cool how widespread GearFest is.

Another RLC Update

2011-12-13T12:41:00.001-08:00

Week 12

This week the RLC took on a global perspective of river systems. Nancy Nerny, board member for Dayton Public Schools, and Sr. Leanne Jablonski, Director of MEEC, led the class in discussions on global water issues. Previous to class, each student was assigned a case study to research. The case studies included: the sinking of Mexico City, water pollution in Malaysia, groundwater depletion in Hawaii, Israel, the Palestinians, and the Jordan River, and the Three Gorges Dam. With research in hand, the students shared what they had found. Each student filled out a “jigsaw” or, a chart with areas to fill in the information they had found. The chart included areas to fill in information on the case (conflict and its cause), scientific background, social implications, public policy, solutions, and Dayton implications. The students found the research interesting. Many of the students reflected on how the US takes water for granted. They were surprised by the water issues other people face around the world.

Week 13

This week, the RLC continued with global water issues. Building upon last week and the research the students conducted, the students viewed the movie Blue Gold. The movie, a documentary style film, is a report on water issues around the world signifying how the world’s water is precious. In response to the film the students answered the following journal question:

The last two classes have focused on global water issues. Reflecting on Blue Gold and the in-class activities what strikes you the most? What have you learned about water conflicts as a whole? What do you propose will be necessary to achieve solutions and access to clean and safe drinking water for all? Why is it important to have an interdisciplinary approach to leadership?

The students really responded to the film. One student recommended showing the film at the beginning of the semester in order to grab students’ attention about water issues. Having viewed the film earlier, this student thought he would have created a project proposal based on the film’s content.

2011-12-02T14:56:00.000-08:00

Earlier this year in August, the River Stewards embarked on their annual Orientation for the incoming River Stewards. Accompanied by community partners and other River Stewards, the group of paddlers made their way down a 17 mile stretch ending on the Great Miami River near Sun Watch Indian Village. There, the Stewards packed up and participated in a small reflection exercises lead by brother Geiger. At one point during the reflection brother Geiger asked each member to pour a small amount of water from their water bottles into the river. He then prompted everyone to imagine where their water would end up in the future..

Now is the future. The water that was poured into the river could now be the snow atop a child's snowman. The water could be dispersed among the waves in the Gulf of Mexico, the reefs of Australia, or the currents of the Atlantic. The water could be sweat on the floor of the Rec Plex or even a puddle in a drainage system in Cincinnati. The water could be anywhere on the planet by now. The point is that we are interconnected by our watersheds. What we do here and now plays a role in what they will do then and there. Lets us be wise and diligent with what we do in the "here and now".

Be encouraged ye Stewards of the River!

Alexander Gaskins

Flying Home

2011-11-27T12:38:00.000-08:00

As I flew home for deep-fried Turkey day in Virginia, I "tried" to look outside my window as the plane bumped and jerked from Dayton to D.C. The rivers I saw as I was about to land were very surprising to me because I had no idea that we had so many close to my house. The time in between hitting my head from the wind and from trying to make my knees as small as possible so the angry lady in front of me wouldn't turn around again, I attempted to find out where these rivers and lakes were.

Once I finally landed and kissed the ground a few times, I decided to go home and research the names of some of these nearby bodies of water. To my surprise I found that a lot of these were public rivers and lakes that could be used for recreation. The only disappointing part that I found was how under advertised these were. Compared to Dayton and how we all love and promote our rivers, the area I live in just sees them as a 'there' and nothing special.

I remember when I lived in the Cleveland area and how everyone loved the metroparks, the lakes and rivers, and the forests we had. Everyone knew where Beartown Lakes was and how LaDue Reservoir was a great place to fish, hang out, and go boating on. Now that I live in cruddy ol' Virginia, there is none of this, even though the amount of rivers and lakes nearby are much higher than that of Cleveland.

On a brighter side of things, I found that my family kept my bass boat from when we lived in Cleveland. Even though I am still unsure of how they pulled that boat 8 hours to DC I am glad they did. It made me realize that I can take this boat out, after registering it, and go enjoy the many lakes near my house. Also, my Opa talked to me during this small break and was ecstatic when I told him I had been kayaking in River Stewards and how much I loved doing it. Since he is a big kayaker himself, he gave me tips and tricks and even some money to buy my personal kayak for the spring and summer time so I can go explore the rivers and lakes near my house.

In the end, I found out how lucky Dayton is to have this much love for its rivers and lakes. As everyone says, you don't know what you got till its gone, and it is especially true in this case.

A Quick Update on the Last Few Weeks of the RLC

2011-11-14T08:50:00.001-08:00

Week 9

This week, Dick Ferguson, the Director of the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community, spoke to the students about different leadership styles, how they work together, and how the students can use their leadership skills to complete their projects. Dick’s presentation was very valuable for the students to learn how their projects can contribute to the Dayton community.

Each student has an advisor that is a member of the Leadership Team who will work with them to finalize their project proposals by the end of the semester. The students will also be working together to give each other feedback on the project proposals.

Week 10

Stan Kegley from the City of Troy and Dr. Janet Bednarek of UD’s History Department both presented to the class during the tenth week. This class was to teach the students about localism and regionalism. Janet discussed with the students how people tend to perceive Dayton and the Dayton region and why they perceive it as such.

Stan talked about regionalism and how Dayton can act as a region to revitalize. Stan talked about how the outdoor recreation industry has revitalized other cities. He also explained what Ohio’s Great Corridor is doing to promote the region around the Great Miami River.

Week 11

Dusty Hall returned to our classroom this year but in a different role. Dusty now works for SOCHE, Southwestern Council for Higher Education as the Executive Director of Student Development and Program Innovation. Dusty returned to the classroom to again talk to the students about leadership in Dayton. A big fan of Arthur Morgan, Dusty used Morgan as an example of leadership skills. He also pointed out the flaws Morgan had as a leader (See student Ashley Neimeier’s post below about her own learning about Morgan). Dusty brought his new co-worker with him, Maggie Varga. Maggie is a former River Steward and Graduate Assistant for the Rivers Institute. She is now the Director of Program Innovation for SOCHE. Dusty and Maggie continued their presentation with discussion on hypoxia and the cap and trade program Dusty developed.

Elise McElwain from CYP Studios followed Dusty and Maggie’s presentation with an overview of Low Impact Development techniques. Several students are planning their proposals around LID so the presentation was very beneficial. CYP Studios, located in Centerville, serves the area in landscape architecture services.

Arthur E. Morgan and leadership

2011-11-14T08:15:00.001-08:00

This semester in the River Leadership Curriculum course we are studying, among a multitude of other things, the leadership style of Arthur E. Morgan. Morgan was, at one point in his life, a Greater Daytonian, having served as president of Antioch College in Yellow Springs, OH between 1920 and 1936. In addition Morgan's ultra-successful engineering plans and strong leadership helped to shape river systems in the Dayton region.

While RLC students agreed that his leadership tactics were "visionary," most could not deny his tendency to sometimes be close-minded and uncompromising.

In a little out of class stumbling and in pursuit of my own personal inquiries into what constitutes as reasons for belief, I discovered the following essay/podcast by Arthur E. Morgan: http://thisibelieve.org/essay/16833/

(as many will remember, "This I Believe" is the First Year read this academic year)

A blustery day to all

Ashley

University of Dayton and River Stewards in US Airways Magazine

2011-11-13T04:42:00.000-08:00

US Airways Magazine / University of Dayton

The Stewards take to the sky....Follow this link to view the article!

River Leadership - ASI 345

2011-11-09T10:32:00.000-08:00

Here is a quick update from the RLC class....

Week 7

Blake Watson from UD’s law school discussed water law with the students this week. Blake drew on several case studies to explain how law pertaining to water works. He discussed law in terms of water use, rights to water, as well as law regarding pollution including the Clean Water Act. The students engaged in discussion online and in the classroom with Blake about these topics.

The students have also now submitted their first ideas for project proposals. The Leadership Team is working with each student individually to continue developing their idea before their proposals are final. We already have some great, creative ideas. We are excited to see the students develop them further!

Week 8

Below are pictures from the tour the students took of the buried Rubicon Creek with Brother Don Geiger. Brother Don also used this class as an opportunity to talk about sustainability. The students read about efforts in other cities to uncover buried streams and rivers and were able to relate these stories to the Rubicon Creek. In addition, the students revisited the definition of sustainability that they created in their second class. Since that class, the students have heard from many other disciplines so they took time to consider if those disciplines should be included in the definition as well.

Low Dam Removal and Waterpark Plans!

2011-10-29T07:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the Baby Stews took the mini-course to our friends at the Miami Conservancy District and Five Rivers MetroParks to hear about the exciting removal of the Monument low dam a little ways past RiverScape on the Great Miami. Removing the low dam will help the river return to its natural flow rather than a buildup of water behind the dam. It will also allow for a better migration of fish, less chance for poor water quality from sediment buildup behind the dam, and most importantly, resolve the safety hazard that low dams can present. For those of you who are unfamiliar with low dams, they are usually concrete dams with varying height that water runs over that blends in with the river in front of the low dam, so they are not always easy to see if you are paddling down the river.

The plan is to remove the Monument low dam and replace it with a Whitewater Park, with options for a smoother channel or a whitewater passage. These channels along the Great Miami River are part of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan, which if you haven't checked it out yet, you should! http://www.downtowndayton.org/plan/ The ultimate goal of these new river passages is to create a more aesthetic and recreational use of the river downtown to attract people to the city while still keeping flood protection in mind.

The whole plan is very exciting, but I think that the Whitewater Parks are a great continuation of the conservation that Five Rivers MetroParks and MCD have always kept as a goal for the city of Dayton and Montgomery County.

Here's more on the Plans for the Whitewater Park specifically: http://www.downtowndayton.org/plan/rivers.html

(P.S. The renderings of potential projects are really cool, especially this! http://www.downtowndayton.org/pdfs/recommendations_rivers_appendix2.pdf)

Enjoy this beautiful fall weather!

River love,

Liz (2014 Cohort)

RiverMobile Update 10/19

2011-10-19T13:02:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday, the student design team met with Exhibit Concepts for the first design/brainstorming session. The meeting was mostly focused on the teaching techniques that will be implemented in the trailer. From these discussions, the trailer can be configured to best fit the needs of the Stewards leading the curriculum. The overall feeling of the exhibit was a main focus of the meeting. We want the RiverMobile to be something exciting and very different. The RiverMobile should almost be like an adventure through Dayton’s unique river history and exciting potential. This will hopefully make teachers want to take their classes to see and learn from the River Stewards at the RiverMobile. This will further the theme of “our rivers make us special.”

While this meeting was mostly focused on the overall theme of the exhibit, some discussion was given to specific aspects of the RiverMobile. It will be very important that the students experiencing the RiverMobile will feel like they are a part of the river system. We talked about having them walk over part of the aquifer or along the river bank looking at animals that might be seen along the river. Also an interactive game was discussed that the students would play while going through the exhibit. It would provide fun for the students, as well as, a great tool for the Stewards to determine how much the students are learning.

The student design team continues to meet outside of the meetings with Exhibit Concepts to determine curriculum and discuss questions brought up in the previous design meetings. The next meeting with ECI will occur on October 28.

River Leadership Curriculum Update

2011-10-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

Week 5

For Week 5 of the RLC, the students traveled to Calvary Cemetery with Brother Don Geiger of UD's Biology Department and Susan Byrnes, the director of ArtStreet. Brother Don discussed land use and its impacts with the students. Standing on top of a hanging prairie, the class was able to see various examples of land use including a land fill, a highway, and waste management. Brother Don brought several maps to show how land use has changed throughout the years. Susan asked the students to exercise their "third eye" to process what they were seeing. Susan asked the students to draw what they were seeing, smelling, and interpreting on the hanging prairie. She even asked them to draw what they might not be able to see with their naked eye, like systems at work (i.e. radio signals). The students really responded to both presentations. This class was changed slightly from last year. Originally we also traveled to Hills and Dales MetroPark and did a different artisitic exercise. Staying in one location allowed for both presenters to have more time and flexibility with what they wanted to talk about.

Week 6

This class also took the students out of the classroom. This time we traveled to Miami Conservancy District to talk about the history of river cities and current examples of how cities are using their rivers to revitalize. Dr. Janet Bednarek of UD's History Department explained how rivers have been integral in cities' history. Using Pittsburgh as a case study, Janet explained how cities were dependent on their rivers for transportation and industry. A next phase in river city history was reclaiming rivers after industry polluted many of them. Finally, in more recent history, cities have begun to turn back to their rivers to draw people to live in their midst. Dayton is one of these cities. Carrie Scarff, Deputy Director of Five Rivers MetroParks, has been integral in the conversations about removing a low dam in downtown Dayton. The low dam is very dangerous. People hope by removing it, recreation on the river and activity around the river will increase. The plan would remove the low dam but also put in a kind of water park that would make water sports and the river bank more attractive. This class was beneficial to the students' learning after they kayaked one of the rivers that flows downtown. The students paddled down the Mad River a few weeks prior to this presentation. They ended the trip at RiverScape, close to where the low dam would be removed.

The pictures below are from the students' visit to Calvary Cemetery with Brother Don Geiger and Susan Byrnes.

RiverMobile Update

2011-10-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

Since the last post, the student design team came up with the student learning outcomes as well the possible station topics in the trailer. In addition, the team has created on over-arching theme that will be incorporated into all aspects of the exhibit. “Our rivers make us special” will be the theme that guides all future design of the RiverMobile. The summer design team also did a number of experiential trips to meet with exhibit designers at museums around the region. The exhibit designers were extremely helpful by introducing the design team to some of the challenges associated with the use of water. They also provided ideas for testing some of the curricular activities for the RiverMobile.

From these discussions, the possible stations were created. The seven possible stations are: Dayton’s River History, Map Reading Skills, Life In and Around the River, Great Miami Watershed, Great Miami Buried Aquifer, Municipal Water, the Future of Dayton. The stations could be featured inside the trailer or incorporated into the exterior structure of the RiverMobile. Detailed information about all of the exhibits and possible features were compiled into a report that will be used in designing the RiverMobile. On September 16th, the summer design team met with Exhibit Concepts in Vandalia, Ohio to discuss a possible partnership while working on the RiverMobile.

After the meeting with Exhibit Concepts, a team was formed to work on the project through the school year. This team will be responsible for meeting with Exhibit Concepts every few weeks to finalize the design of the trailer. The team is also in charge of leading the curriculum development. The curriculum will be designed to focus on grades sixth through eighth but will be made relevant to people of all ages. The design team will be ready to present their renderings of the project sometime in February and construction will begin shortly afterwards. The release of the RiverMobile will hopefully occur in Fall 2012.

Check at Exhibit Concepts online! (http://www.exhibitconcepts.com/)

A Field Trip with Dr. McEwan's Plant Diversity & Ecology Lab

2011-10-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

Students listen while the Rivers Institute talks about different land use and assets in the Great Miami Watershed, before beginning their float along the Mad River. Along the way, students will observe a series of changes along the river bank; including natural riparian zones, floodplain, industrial/manufacturing areas and urban riverfronts.

Floating along EastWood MetroPark, students learn about riparian zones and discuss the benefits they have on river systems and water quality.

Student enjoy the fountains at RiverScape in downtown Dayton, at the end of their paddle.

River Leadership Curriculum Update

2011-09-30T10:56:00.000-07:00

Week 3

This week brought River Science into the classroom. Mike Ekberg from the Miami Conservancy District spoke to the students about Dayton’s greatest assets including our aquifer, watershed, and rivers. Mike provided the students with analogies to help them understand how these systems work. Next, Dr. Jeff Kavanaugh of UD’s Biology Department spoke to the students about water quality, how to test it, as well as a case study of the Chicago River. These topics coincided with the readings the students completed on ecology of rivers, regulatory biology, the Clean Water Act, Biological Criteria, and water resources of Montgomery County. These two presentations were a great introduction to things the students saw on their Saturday field trip where they kayaked down the Mad River, and tested the water quality by sampling macroinvertebrates and fish shocking. Tying this information together, we asked the students to tell us about their hometown watersheds. Led by Sr. Leanne Jablosnki FMI, the class discussed what they already knew about their hometown watersheds. The students were then challenged to do further research on any unique characteristics or problems their watershed may have. We wanted the students to think back to ways that they may have identified with their watershed in the past and how it may be similar or different to Dayton’s watershed. After the paddle on Saturday many students made connections between their hometown watershed and things they saw on the paddle.

Week 4

This week built on the students’ knowledge of Dayton and its watershed. Dr. Sarah Hippensteel Hall of the Miami Conservancy District and Greater Dayton Partners for the Environment spoke to the students about human impact on watersheds. She concentrated on the issues that the Dayton region faces. This presentation helped many of the students begin to think about possible project proposals. Next, Felicia Graham of the City of Dayton’s Water Department spoke to the students about how the city manages water. Her colleagues also brought a truck and other equipment that they use to inspect pipes throughout the city. This class gave the students a great explanation of how professionals manage and protect the water that we use but also what people individually can do to protect our water resources. Introducing these ideas benefited the field trip as the students were able to see outfalls from water treatment plants.

Below are pictures from the Saturday Field Trip.

UD Students Focus on the River as Art

2011-09-19T08:55:00.000-07:00

Click here to view the full posting on Dayton MostMetro website!

There’s a lot that I like about the Activated Spaces program happening downtown. There’s the obvious – Art in empty storefronts makes downtown look more welcoming and friendly. There’s the more artsy – It’s a chance to see the diverse skills and cool work from some of our talented local artists.

But there’s something more – Especially this round, which invited the artists to highlight favorite neighborhoods or community assets, I got to see Dayton through the eyes of the artists and I got 15 new perspectives on what’s important in our region. Here at DaytonMostMetro.com we talk a lot about all the good stuff happening in the community, so I wasn’t surprised to see people lovin’ on their neighborhoods and gardens and people and parks. But what drew my attention (for this article at least) is what did surprise me. And that’s Dayton getting some love from some UD students. Too often we talk about how UD is in a bubble, but this round of Activated Spaces features a great group of UD students who are engaged in our region through volunteerism, sustainability, and now – art.

So, since they’re giving Dayton some love, I say we send it right back and give some attention to what these UD students are doing for our community, for the river, and for Activated Spaces.
Artists Susan Byrnes and Dennie Eagleson worked with a group of students – “River Stewards” from the University of Dayton Rivers Institute – to photograph a variety of images during the Institute’s annual two-day trip through Dayton. These picture spotlight the river system that the group believes “helps us define our sense of place” in the community. Highlighting the area between Island Metropark and the Steward Street Bridge, with a focus on the bridges themselves, this installation offers a unique perspective of Dayton by presenting views of the bridges from the viewpoint of a kayak in the river and from along the bicycle path.
Eagleson is the Artist-in-Residence for the River Stewards; last year they created a sound installation and the students discussed what they saw and how they experienced the river. This year, Eagleson wanted to focus on something more tangible and structural as they experienced the river through a visual art project.

About 10 students shared six cameras on the trip; each student was assigned a specific bridge to feature, but additionally they had a great time snapping away and documenting the experience. The group used a plastic lens camera which allows for a narrow area of focus and it becomes fuzzy or darker as it moves to the edges. Each bridge is represented in a composite; some camera glare, the use of photos from both up close and far away, and the overlapping pictures as they’re framed hint at the experience of enjoying the bridges just as much as a visual representation of the structure.

Byrnes discussed the beauty of the bridges through the corridor and how the trip allowed the students to see them from a unique perspective. She says, “It was interesting for us to see the difference between the old and new bridges and understand the details that got translated from the old bridges.” Eagleson adds, “When you drive over a bridge, you don’t know what the true structure is. The bridges in Dayton are so beautiful, we really enjoyed seeing the shapes and how the bridges are made.”

You too can enjoy the structures and the experience of Dayton’s bridges – stop by the River Stewards’ display at the Main Street Garage. Officially launching on Urban Nights. And be sure to visit the many other displays that represent Dayton’s assets through the eyes of Dayton’s artists.

More info at Activated Spaces or on Facebook.

About the River StewardsFrom the University of Dayton Web site: The Rivers Institute administered by the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community at the University of Dayton is an initiative to bring key partners in Dayton and surrounding communities together to promote our watershed while preserving and protecting its resources. Students, faculty and staff from the University are working with community members, stakeholders, and local organizations to build community around our rivers. The Rivers Institute’s work focuses on promoting learning and undergraduate research, bringing UD to the river, and bringing Dayton to the river.

About Susan ByrnesSusan Byrnes is an artist, art administrator, and art educator. She holds a BFA in photography from Syracuse University, and an MFA in sculpture from Eastern Michigan University. She exhibits sculpture, installation, and performance work nationally. Susan also produces arts-based broadcasts for college radio, and produces sonic art and audio stories. Born in Rome, NY, she resides in Dayton, OH and serves as director of ArtStreet, a multi-arts learning facility at the University of Dayton.

About Dennie EaglesonDennie Eagleson is a documentary and fine art photographer and educator. She was an Associate Professor of Photography at Antioch College until it closed in 2008. Since then, she has taught photography and documentary studies at The Nonstop Liberal Arts Institute in Yellow Springs, and at the University of Dayton as an Artist in Residence in the fall of 2009. Her fine art work has focused on place and artifacts of people’s lives, using alternative imaging tools such as pinhole and plastic lens cameras. Eagleson’s documentary work has investigated alternative families, life and culture in Cuba and Nicaragua, local and sustainable agriculture, and art and music as a empowerment tool in community building. Eagleson recently developed skills in radio production as a Community Voices Trainee. Her piece on a writing program in the Springfield, Ohio Youth Detention center was aired as a part of Film Dayton’s Screenless Screening program.

River Stewards featured in University of Dayton Magazine

2011-09-19T08:45:00.000-07:00

Last summer the River Stewards spent time with the staff of the University of Dayton Magazine, while they collected information and gained first hand experiences for the article in this Fall's edition. Click here to view article.

A river runs through it.
by Michelle Tedford

“The river changes every day. Some days, you love it. Others, you’re just frustrated by it.”
And on this sunny July day, senior Bethany Renner says she is loving it. The sky is blue and the Mad River, an artery winding through East Dayton toward downtown, gurgles over rocky riffles at a pace easy enough to be navigated by the novices of the group she’s leading.
Renner, blond hair in a tight ponytail, knifes her kayak through the water. She alerts boaters to a water hazard ahead, an old bridge piling. More students are teaching in other disciplines, pointing out a blue heron the boaters keep scaring downstream (biology), the clarity of the water (geology), the factories operating alongside (economy) and an outflow pipe that drains stormwater and whatever else eastside residents dump down the storm grate (public policy).
This summer, the River Stewards of the University of Dayton’s Rivers Institute taught nearly 200 paddlers — professors and students, mayors and council members, artists and engineers — in their floating classroom, just one way the students are fulfilling their promise of bringing Dayton to the river.
Senior Alex Galluzzo is paddling sweep on the trip and talking a nautical mile a minute. “My first job is to be sure everyone gets safely down the river,” he says. “Then I’m going to throw a big blanket of information on you, and if you can crawl out with one or two facts, I’m good with that.”
What started as a river trip with two dozen honors students in 2004 has grown into a sea change emanating from the University’s Fitz Center for Leadership in Community. The Rivers Institute’s staff, community partners, faculty and committed students can now be found at the table of every major regional discussion regarding water and its connection to economic vitality, quality of life and environmental integrity. Some point to these River Stewards as the catalyst for the regional water discussions of the last five years. All agree that these students and their ideas are changing the landscape and contributing to a national and local refocus on water resources.

“The greatest thing I’ve found is that adults are listening to 21-year-olds, and what I say matters.”
Laura Mustee sits on a porch swing on Stonemill Avenue, hair in a ponytail, arms hugging knees to her pink T-shirt, looking every bit a college senior. But the life she describes is something quite unexpected. Since her sophomore year, she’s been part of a 16-member cohort of River Stewards. Members commit to three years of river education, experience and action in addition to their major areas of study.
For Mustee, that’s marketing. But she adds biology, sociology, ecology and economics to the list of what she’s learning, some from faculty and community partners, much from the other River Stewards who represent 27 majors in the interdisciplinary program that is more intense than a club, more amorphous than a major. River Stewards choose each new cohort by application and interview process. The sophomores commit to three years of Friday afternoon classes and service and civic engagement opportunities. They work with their cohort on a senior project. They constantly create new ways to accomplish the Rivers Institute’s mission of helping the Dayton community to see its rivers as a strategic natural resource central to the communal, economic, aesthetic and ecological vitality of the region.
The program stretches students and their leadership potential, and Mustee and others have proven themselves skillful in discussions of public policy, science, economic development and quality of life.
The Dayton Development Coalition is the region’s economic development engine. In 2008, DDC began focusing attention on water as an economic resource. Then the River Stewards got involved — first as guest presenters, then as seated members of the Dayton Water Roundtable — and the conversation evolved to embrace quality of life, environmental stewardship and retention of a young creative class. Maureen Patterson, vice president of stakeholder relations at DDC, calls the River Stewards “visionary.”
“They all speak about the water. They are so excited by it and that inspires the people sitting there,” Patterson says. The stewards’ voices have allowed DDC to better sell the region, she says, by growing educational curricula, pushing technology and innovation, and marketing quality of life.
River Stewards sit on the city of Dayton environmental advisory board. They have presented at the Midwest Ground Water Conference, the Water Management Association of Ohio’s annual meeting and at the annual meeting of the Association of American Colleges and Universities. A steward led a presentation to the DP&L Foundation that netted a $250,000 educational grant. Senior AJ Ferguson coordinates the new Ohio’s Great Corridor Association, which brings together governments, businesses and community organizations to promote the Great Miami River watershed.
In the June OGCA meeting, Ferguson took notes and allowed participants to explore ideas — more than 100 he wrote on easel sheets that he taped around the room — to find common threads before he offered careful words of analysis.
That may be the best part of being a steward, he says — being part of the dynamic conversation. “What I get most excited about being in a roomful of mayors and city managers is that I get to test where I am in the quality of the ideas I offer.”
The best example of the Rivers Institute’s collaborative power is the annual River Summit, begun in 2008 and held on UD’s campus. Last spring, it attracted more than 200 of Ohio’s leaders to sessions on recreation, tourism, watershed protection and how nonprofits and governments can work together to garner grant money for river restoration and recreation projects.
UD is the reason the River Summit works, says Amy Dingle, outdoor recreational coordinator for Five Rivers MetroParks, the region’s conservation and recreation organization. She says the University of Dayton, with a reputation for seeking the common good, is the neutral player that can bring together competing interests to understand how our ultimate goals are connected.
In the Great Miami River watershed, those connections extend like the fingers of its tributaries.
Twenty-seven miles upriver from UD is the city of Troy. In 2009, Mayor Mike Beamish welcomed River Stewards who paddled for five days from the headwaters near Indian Lake to Taylorsville Dam north of Dayton as part of their senior project. In Troy they learned about the city’s long connection with the Great Miami River, about its investment in Treasure Island as a family recreation destination and more.
Stan Kegely, Troy’s project manager, is an advocate for the River Summit and for the mission the students espouse. “A stronger river corridor is a stronger Troy,” he says. “A stronger Dayton and a stronger Miamisburg is a stronger Troy. Regionally, when we all grow, we all benefit from one another’s achievements.”
This collaborative mindset is a far cry from the competitive rhetoric once dominant in the region, and Kegley points to the River Stewards as a reason.
Dayton city commissioner Nan Whaley ’98 agrees. “They’ve been the catalyst in the region around water issues. If they hadn’t done the River Summit and didn’t show the excitement and take the leadership role, you wouldn’t see the OGCA, you wouldn’t see the (downtown Dayton) plan. They’ve been the catalyst.”

“My friend picked me up from the airport, and the first place I went to was RiverScape (in downtown Dayton) so I could see my river.”
Katie Norris ’10 is now surrounded by waters — geographically, encircled by the Stillwater and Penobscot rivers at the University of Maine in Orono, and academically, as a graduate student studying the impact of native migrating fish called alewives on the local ecology. Her research takes her wading through cold streams and canoeing in lakes that are the alewives’ breeding grounds. But she has never felt more connected than she did as a River Steward in Dayton.
“I’ve always loved nature,” she says. “The Rivers Institute solidified that for me and showed me how to make the connection between my love for ecology and water and the rivers with community and the social piece.”
And the river she so loves is different from the one known by UD alumni from a decade or more ago. During the last 40 years, organizations like the Miami Conservancy District have been working with farmers, factories and municipalities to improve the quality of the water.
Fish kills of 40 years ago are replaced with fishermen who catch prize-sized smallmouth bass in the shadow of the Monument Street bridge. For $6 a half hour, you can rent a kayak on a lazy Saturday afternoon and paddle where the Great Miami River and Mad River merge in the spray of six giant fountains. More than 40 miles of paved pathways along the river corridor connect to 300 more that wind through farmland and prairie, tying Piqua and Urbana to the north through Dayton and Xenia to Cincinnati in the south. Bicyclists share pathways with joggers, dog-walkers, lunchtime exercisers and young families with toddlers muddy from chasing geese. Five Rivers MetroParks’ RiverScape — with its three blocks of gardens, fountains, four-seasons pavilion and bicycle hub — draws all walks of people downtown, including UD students like Norris.
It’s also a river much more accessible to current students thanks to the Rivers Institute. The 2011 cohort, the second to graduate from the program, organized bus trips to introduce University students to recreational amenities and other features of a livable city. The 2012 cohort is helping to begin a bikeshare program; UD students can check out a bike as easily as a basketball and pedal the spur along Stewart Street to connect to the Great Miami River Trail and the city or countryside beyond.
And all stewards are ambassadors. Senior Jenny Biette took her boyfriend and friends to RiverScape on the Fourth of July. As they sat near the levees built to protect citizens after the 1913 flood, the visual communication design major spoke of the glacier 18,000 years ago that deposited the gravel that naturally filters Dayton’s drinking water, making it some of the best in the world.
“It sort of surprises people about how special Dayton is,” she says. “They came to the school (UD) because they know it’s special, but in Dayton you always run into something new and exciting. The River Stewards have helped to cement us to this city.”
In the Rivers Institute, students become part of the story — and part of the community. As an arm of the Fitz Center, the Rivers Institute educates leaders who build community. Cincinnati native Norris took with her to Maine that need to feel connected to place. She sought out a community of learners and a community of recreational enthusiasts. She also is making sure her scientific research is relevant to people and their concerns — the impact of repatriated fish populations to property values, tourism and fishing. These are values she says she will carry with her always, no matter the name of the river along which she lives.

“If we want more students to be civically engaged, we need more hooks.”
For AJ Ferguson, that hook was kayaking. What better way to entice a student than the opportunity to kayak the rivers, bike the pathways and hike the trails? River Stewards talk of this and more when recruiting the next cohort of students, who vie for the 15 or so positions available each year. For fall 2011, 35 applied — for the fun, the intensity and the commitment that will consume most of their formerly free time.
And once they are hooked by kayaking, the rest follows.
“There’s a city out there we want you to enjoy, and when you know it you’ll love it and you’ll want to protect it,” he says.
Ferguson was one of three students who presented at the June Marianist Universities Meeting to presidents, deans and faculty about civic engagement. Civic engagement is a hallmark of Marianist education, and the three Marianist universities (University of Dayton, St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and Chaminade University of Honolulu) are always looking for ways to do it better. Ferguson believes the Rivers Institute is a perfect example.
So does his father.
Dick Ferguson ’73, Fitz Center executive director, sees in the actions of the Rivers Institute a practical wisdom. Students are not necessarily probing the depths of science but are instead identifying the knowledge needed by everyday citizens to make connections and take action. What makes an economics major passionate about the aquifer? Tap that, and you have the key to civic engagement.
“It’s always very clear that in order to get the most out of the students, you have to engage their hearts, heads and hands,” he says. “We tell them, you have to be willing to get wet … and spend every Friday afternoon for the next three years with the Rivers Institute. You’re going to have to use your head and think along with community leaders about how to bring Dayton to the river.”
And that thinking starts with listening. In the Rivers Institute, the 45 or so students work with coordinator Leslie King, graduate assistants and faculty from biology to history to engineering. In meetings, they joke about the dominant brainstorming style called nominal group technique. But it creates a level playing field that both empowers and humbles. A moderator asks each person to contribute an idea. Ideas are written down, but none are discussed until every idea is out, often after many rounds of the room. Then the discussion begins, and the group condenses, collapses and prioritizes the list, in the end formulating a plan for the future and assigning responsibilities.
The Marianists teach us much about a community of equals, Dick Ferguson says, which is part of what the Fitz Center aims to achieve. He points to Brother Don Geiger, S.M. ’55 as a perfect model.
At age 78, the retired professor and Dayton native can be found paddling the river with students, stopping to pull invasive purple loosestrife from weedy banks. A world-renowned environmental biologist, he can also be found at a Rivers Institute meeting of faculty and students, waiting his turn in a discussion where he knows his seniority does not ensure his opinions will win out.
Says Dick Ferguson of the Marianists, “They go in as learners and contribute as learners, not just teachers.”This makes UD’s Rivers Institute different.
Around the nation, universities are joining with cities and environmental groups in looking at ways to use, protect and market water. The Rivers Institute at Hanover College in Indiana is a hallmark of higher-ed programs. UD invited its director to campus for a presentation when the Fitz Center added rivers to its community-building agenda. He gave an interesting and technically competent presentation on the science of the rivers of the world.
But that’s not where the UD Rivers Institute wants to be. Hanover can be the leader of river science. The University of Dayton is a national leader in community building and defining the space between curriculum and experiential learning, Dick Ferguson says.
And that is where society needs the most help.
“Environmental challenges remain to be solved because we have failed to look at solving them through a lens other than those of science and engineering,” says Dusty Hall, manager of program development at the Miami Conservancy District, a partner of the Rivers Institute from the start. Hall led that first river trip of honors students in 2004.
Water is a potential billion-dollar resource if you take a multidisciplinary view, Hall says, and UD is in the rare position to prepare students to participate in the three bubbles of the water economy — economic vitality, quality of life and environmental integrity.
“There will be no better-positioned group in the country to address issues of water than the Rivers Institute,” he says.
For example, when tackling the issue of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico — nutrification of water that leads to algal blooms and death of sea life — the stewards suggested having Ohio farmers talk with Gulf Coast fishermen. They believe that Ohioans whose actions contribute to hypoxia 1,505 miles downstream would make better choices about fertilizer application if they felt connected to the larger community of farmers, including those who farm the sea. Such conversations could succeed where years of political and public policy discussions have failed.
On a local level, the River Stewards will help advocate and plan for the removal of a low dam in downtown Dayton. It is a drowning danger and an impediment to developing the downtown section of the Great Miami River as a navigable corridor.
“We know how to take out a low dam,” says AJ Ferguson, a mechanical engineering major. “It’s no great feat — you get enough engineers in a room and they can figure it out. But getting through the public policy issue and the public perceptions issues is much more difficult.”
It’s a conversation he’s looking forward to being part of, and it’s the place to which he’s steering his career upon graduation in May.

“When I teach kids about the aquifers, I can probe them with questions, but I want them to touch and feel it and by the end ask questions that make me see they understand what an aquifer does.”
Bethany Renner, an early childhood education major, is looking forward to the day when she no longer needs to carry an aquarium full of sand and gravel down an icy hill from the chapel to Holy Angels School near Brown Street.That day could come in 2012.
This summer, she was one of seven students who received stipends to work on Rivers Institute projects. They shared an office and lived in community, lobbing ideas to one another through open doors at bedtime. Bethany’s project was the Rivermobile, which will take the lessons stewards are already sharing with children — ecology, river safety, history, energy — and house an exhibit in a 53-foot trailer that will become a mobile classroom accessible to students throughout the watershed.
The Rivermobile is the brainchild of Tracy Horan ’10, a Spanish and middle childhood education graduate who created a water curriculum for Holy Angels that worked to build community by getting the children to better understand the place in which they live.
Stewards adapted that curriculum this summer for children in the Adventure Central summer program at Wesleyan MetroPark in West Dayton. Alex Galluzzo, an operations management major, led the camp.
“The whole point of the camp is why Dayton is special, why you should be proud,” he says.
The sixth- and seventh-graders stomped in Wolf Creek, paddled kayaks and made edible aquifers that tasted a lot like sundaes. On the last day, the boys surprised the stewards with a rap naming the area’s five rivers and creeks, and the girls sang about invertebrates, algae and rocks. “It was one of the coolest gifts ever,” he says.
When the Rivermobile is complete, it will be one of many success stories for the Rivers Institute, which is constantly developing new ways to reach larger audiences.
While there are only about 45 River Stewards any given year, the River Leadership Curriculum reaches many more. The interdisciplinary classes use students, faculty and community members as teachers who craft lessons around water topics paired with field trips and guest speakers. Through a $180,000 grant from the McGregor Fund, the Fitz Center and the College of Arts and Sciences developed the curriculum. Graduate assistant Sarah Peterson, a 2010 River Steward alumna, helped assess the curriculum’s effectiveness, and two sophomore River Stewards this summer scheduled the teachers and sessions for the 2011-12 academic year.
It is a powerful educational model, one that demonstrates an effective new approach to learning, says Don Pair, associate dean for integrated learning and curriculum.
“It’s about the opportunity our students get — and I get to experience along with them — to see how community issues, priorities and assets connect,” he says. “Their entire educational experience is completely changed by learning what is on campus or just outside campus.”
He says lessons learned from the river curriculum will be applied to the Common Academic Program, the first major overhaul in 25 years of the University’s general education requirements that will guarantee all students a more experiential, interactive and collaborative education.

“I’ve signed a lease. I’m pretty committed to Dayton.”
Maggie Varga ’10 is the kind of person you know you need to hold on to. Smart, committed, connected and energetic, the economics and finance graduate first joined the River Stewards as a way to have fun on the river. She became a leader for her cohort, organizing their senior project from the headwaters of the Great Miami River watershed to Dayton. While completing her MBA, she became the Rivers Institute graduate assistant, and she then transitioned into the Rivers Institute’s summer coordinator. Today Varga, a Columbus, Ohio, native, is looking for a job in Dayton, and she has lots of supporters vying to make a spot for her on their staffs.
“There is a real movement around the rivers in Dayton,” she says. “Something is happening here, and UD was at the forefront of it. It was the enthusiasm of the students going down the river that kind of got the ball rolling.”
Rivers Institute coordinator Leslie King sees the development of Varga’s leadership skills as mirroring the growth of the Rivers Institute. It started as an August kayak for Berry Scholars, who told the Fitz Center it needed to create something more. It became a program for a small cohort, then added a curriculum to reach more students, which has become one of the models of the new undergraduate general education curriculum. Classes for Holy Angels students will become a regional mobile learning laboratory in the Rivermobile. The River Summit will be supported and partially coordinated by Ohio’s Great Corridor Association, created collaboratively with the Rivers Institute.
The growth is good, King says, because 45 stewards can accomplish only so much on Friday afternoons. Because of their community-building and leadership skills, they get to create and complete projects. They develop partnerships that assume some of the responsibilities, allowing those ideas to thrive while the next group of students develops its own projects. And with each new cohort, new priorities emerge.
One question King is now posing to the students: “We’ve done so much for the river in general. How can we now put some of the focus on UD’s riverfront?”
A student asked why we don’t have benches along the levee across from the University’s new River Campus, the former NCR world headquarters. Why can’t you walk from UD, sit and just enjoy the river? Good question.
And be assured they will have good answers, and a meeting employing nominal group technique, and a few field trips, and goals for their cohort as well as goals for life that are quite different than those with which they started UD. Stewards are true leaders in the Marianist sense, building community through civic engagement, bringing the community in which they live together over a shared resource and a common goal.
“I’m the perfect example of this,” says Varga, “of how the Rivers Institute changes your entire course of your college career and your focus in life.”
Bringing Dayton to the river.

Michelle Tedford paddled under the spray of the RiverScape fountains July 1 during a trip down the Mad River led by the stewards. The fountain water, fed by the buried valley aquifer, is a constant 57 degrees.

River Leadership Curriculum Week #2

2011-09-09T11:23:00.000-07:00

Week two of the RLC had the students working together and developing leadership skills.

The students had several tasks to complete during class. They read an excerpt from the book Hope and Hard Times which talked about the idea of sustainability, how to deal with competing views of sustainability, a case study of the Monday Creek in Ohio, as well as other important topics regarding sustainability. The students led a discussion on the reading asking each other significant questions about the reading. Next, Maggie Varga led the students in a nominal group technique exercise. Maggie, an alumnus of the River Steward program and UD's Business school and MBA program, is also a former Graduate Assistant for the Rivers Institute. She acted as the GA for the RLC during the Fall 2010 semester. It was great to have her back in the classroom with us. Leading the nominal group technique, Maggie helped the students develop their own definition of what sustainability means. This idea came out of our brainstorming planning that occurred two years ago. Our partners realized the confusion that can come about when talking about the topic of sustainability. Many people have different definitions of the term which makes it hard to have a conversation about it. Using the nominal group technique, we were able to decide on one definition that the students could agree on, feel comfortable with, and refer back to throughout the semester. In addition, the activity gave the students the chance, early on in the semester, to work together and take ownership of the material they were studying. The students responded well to the activity and now define sustainability as:

Sustainability encompasses the engagement of all parts of society equally and fairly, in order to protect natural systems and create reliable solutions for all future generations. Sustainability involves all community stakeholders working toward the common good through best management practices and the application of the five R's (reuse, recycle, reduce, restore, renew). This is achieved by individual communities and society living within their means.

The students and presenters will refer back to this definition throughout the semester as we talk more about our water resources.

Below is a picture of the students working through the nominal group technique.

River Leadership Curriculum Week #1

2011-09-09T10:58:00.000-07:00

The new semester has begun!

This new semester brings a re-vamped River Leadership Curriculum. This past summer Rivers Institute interns Nicole Goettemoeller and Lindsay Rynne worked on revising the RLC. Studying feedback from students and Leadership Team members Nicole and Lindsay developed beneficial changes to the RLC. With week one complete, we have seen one of those changes in action. Nicole and Lindsay developed two opportunities for the RLC students to meet our UD and Dayton partners in the very first class. In the first half of the class, the students participated in a meet and greet with faculty, staff, and community partners. This gave the students the chance to sit down face to face with partners that will be presenting during the semester. The partners also got a chance to meet the students and learn more about them. The second half of the class brought the RLC students to the community they will be learning about and interacting in. Nicole and Lindsay designed a tour that took the students to downtown Dayton. The above picture is of the students on the bus hearing from our partners on the tour of Dayton. They met Dusty Hall and Mike Ekberg while learning about Miami Conservancy District, they met Amy Dingle at Riverscape to learn about Five Rivers Metroparks, and they met Felicia Graham while learning about the City of Dayton Water Department. With the addition of the meet and greet and the tour, we feel the students received a better introduction to the class and who it involves. This class of 16 students is comprised of sophomores, juniors, and seniors from a variety of majors. We are very excited about the re-vamped River Leadership Curriculum and for the chance to engage more students in the curriculum.

Please check back to this blog for more updates on the River Leadership Curriculum!

Here's to a great semester!

River Stewards' Senior Project a Success!

2011-08-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

Flyer News - Bicycle rental program to pedal students around Dayton
Sara Dorn, Chief News Writer

August 25, 2011

The University of Dayton senior River Stewards, Campus Recreation and Student Development have partnered to expand student horizons beyond campus and into the greater Dayton area with a new free bicycle rental program.

The service will allow students to rent bicycles from the RecPlex and is tentatively scheduled to begin Labor Day weekend, according to Johnny Chase, assistant director of fitness at the RecPlex.

Rentals will be available during daylight hours when the RecPlex is open and all bicycles must be returned by dusk, Chase said. Students also will be required to watch a safety video before checking out the bikes, he said.

"We would like people to get out and explore the city for themselves and discover the river and see what an asset it is," said Kristen Crum, senior River Steward and mechanical engineering major.

This year's 16 senior River Stewards are coordinating the rental program for their required class project.

The River Steward organization is designed to promote civic engagement and leadership, according to rivers.udayton.edu.

Student Development spent $9,030 at Performance Bike in Beavercreek, Ohio, on 20 Fuji seven-speed bicycles, one tandem bike, 30 helmets, 30 bike locks, a few handlebar bags and carbon dioxide cartridge pumps for the program, Chase said.

The program's future budget is contingent on its success, but Chase said he drafted a $6,500 budget that includes student labor, parts, programming, repair and renovation.

"We're still working with risk management about the bike maintenance, and an accident is always a risk too," Chase said.

The River Stewards said they have many recommendations for locations to visit throughout the area because of their frequent work in the city of Dayton.

"Our intention isn't to rent bikes to walk from class to class," said A.J. Ferguson, senior River Steward and mechanical engineering major. "A lot of students will realize Dayton is a really cool city and very different from the way they see it now."

Fellow River Stewards classmates Bethany Renner, an early childhood education major, and Alex Galluzzo, an operations management major, said there are even more Dayton-area locations they hope other students will explore.

"Second Street Market is a 10- to 15-minute bike ride and they have fresh produce, hand-crafted goods, basket makers, food vendors, domestic wine and beer, and it's a great place to get breakfast on Saturday mornings," Renner said.

Galluzzo and Renner said Miamisburg and Yellow Springs also are enjoyable nearby cities.

"Eastwood is my favorite place and you can get there in about 30 minutes on a bike," Galluzzo said. "There's a lagoon, and it's a great date place."

Gretchen Berkemeier, another senior River Steward and mechanical engineering major, said she enjoys biking through downtown's RiverScape MetroPark and Hills & Dales MetroPark in Kettering, Ohio.

"I just want people to see more of Dayton, and then maybe they'll want to stay here [after they graduate] and help revitalize Dayton," Chase said.

The 2014 River Steward Cohort; Dayton's Newest Student Leaders

2011-08-18T13:53:00.000-07:00

River trip inspires UD students:
Kayakers will be happy to see the low dam gone from downtown Dayton.

By Steve Bennish, Staff Writer
Updated 12:35 AM Thursday, August 18, 2011

DAYTON — Sun-kissed and a little damp, dozens of University of Dayton students, faculty, staff and collaborators hauled kayaks and gear out of the Great Miami River and walked them by the Monument Avenue low dam downtown Wednesday afternoon before re-entering the water on the other side.
It was the third of four portages required during a two-day educational trip from the Taylorsville Dam to Sunwatch Indian Village. It’s an annual trip with overnight camping along the river organized by UD, but many hope it will be the last time the Monument Avenue low dam portage is necessary.
Plans are under way to demolish and remove the hazardous low dam and install two rock structures that would provide safe passage for canoes and kayaks.
The plans got a boost last month when executives with Cox Enterprises, the parent company of the Dayton Daily News, announced that the James M. Cox Foundation will provide a $1 million challenge grant toward the estimated $4 million project.
It’s a top priority for the Downtown Dayton Plan, which calls for attracting thousands of people to live in a revitalized downtown. According to the latest projections, construction would begin in early 2013.
On Wednesday night, Dayton City Commission voted 5-0 to approve a resolution asking the Miami Conservancy District to transfer all rights, title and interest in the Dayton Low Dam to Five Rivers MetroParks so the dam can be removed and the river kayak project can go forward.
“We’re happy to see this project moving along,” said Leslie King, coordinator of the University’s Rivers Institute.
She said the Institute has been “a vocal advocate for removal of the low dam since 2006, primarily for safety reasons and also to improve the ecological and economic health of the river. We want to see people back in the water, enjoying their rivers.”
Staff Writer Jeremy P. Kelley contributed to this report.

A new face for the Website

2011-08-10T04:07:00.000-07:00

If you visit rivers.udayton.edu anytime soon you might notice a few changes! This summer we completely revamped the website with a new look and a new structure, complete with room to grow as our programming continues to grow. We think the new site fits better with the rest of our publications and represents who we are as the Rivers Institute. Below you'll see a screenshot of the new website and a screenshot of the old website for comparison. We hope you'll like the new look!

Progress!

2011-07-27T06:09:00.000-07:00

Plan To Improve Great Miami River Gets $1M Boost

DAYTON, Ohio -- Every year someone is killed or injured on the low dam of the Great Miami River near downtown Dayton.Now, plans to remove that dangerous dam, may be closer to a reality.Cox Media Group Ohio announced Tuesday that the James M. Cox Foundation is making a $1 million challenge grant to remove the low day and develop recreational opportunities along the river.

DAYTON: $1 Million Gives Boost To River Plan

The $4 million project will remove the low dam and replace it with two scenic drops designed for paddling. It is the top priority of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan because of its potential economic impact on the area. It is part of a continuing effort to develop recreational opportunities in our area and improve the environmental health of the river.

"The James M. Cox Foundation and Cox Enterprises are strong believers in doing what we can to make a lasting impact on our natural resources. This project is a great example of that," said Jim Kennedy, chairman of Cox Enterprises. "We all need to do our part, and my hope is that this gift will inspire others to make a difference and get this critical project done. "The Monument Ave. dam is large, five feet high and 472-feet long. Officials said it is both a safety hazard and a major obstacle that must be overcome to redevelop the area.Dusty Hall of the Miami Conservancy District took a WHIO-TV crew to within a few hundred feet of the dam in a kayak. As they approached the dam, they could only hear the traffic above and not the water churning below."That's a very dangerous hydraulic which can trap boaters and it's dangerous and could be deadly," said Hall.The dam was built in 1978 for recreation, not flood control as many people believe. Now, planners said the only way to safely open up the river to boaters is to remove the dam.For many decades, city leaders turned their backs on the river and now they want to embrace it."The flood of 1913 gave us a great opportunity because it kind of kept all of that industry back from the river that a lot of other cities have. Our river is kind of sitting and waiting for us to reclaim it," said Carrie Scarff, Deputy Director of Five Rivers Metro Parks.The dam will be replaced by two water features where the river can flow and boaters can pass through safely downstream. People who kayak will have a safe place to play in the river."These amenities are huge economic development tools. We really think that it's going to boost the economy and help create jobs," said Dr. Mike Ervin, Co-Chair of the Downtown Dayton Partnership.Ervin is one of the promoters of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan and its proposed river run at RiverScape. He said the city already has people fishing, jogging and biking here and Irvin believes adding kayaks and canoes will attract more young professionals to the city."This project is critical to a vibrant downtown, but it is much more. "It will contribute to the economic development of our entire region, whether you live in Tipp City or Centerville," said Irvin.The dam is the only thing standing in the way of connecting by water, Wright Patterson Air Force Base and the University of Dayton.Hall said, "Removal of this dam will create a connection between two significant economic drivers of our region, create a tourist attraction and an opportunity for folks visiting the Air Force Museum or Carillon Park, to add to their visit here."The challenge grant from the James M. Cox Foundation will be made to the friends of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan Fund at the Dayton Foundation.Cox Media Group Vice President Julia Wallace will be working with community leaders to raise the remaining $3 million as quickly as possible."Our rivers are beautiful and a great resource for the area. The more we can make them a prime attraction for residents and tourists, the better. The river can and should be a focal point for the community," said Wallace.Last year, former CMGO Market Vice President Alex Taylor, great grandson of the late Gov. James M. Cox, committed the company's focus on resolving the low dam issue and led the company in its first participation at Clean Sweep of the Great Miami River.In the last two years, CMGO employees have cleared more than 7,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from the river.

River Day in Sidney

2011-06-06T12:07:00.000-07:00

The River Stewards traveled to Sidney for a River Day with students from Kindergarten to 3rd grader to talk about water safety and recreation on the rivers or other bodies of water. The field day event took place at Tawawa park and River Stewards took students out in canoes to put safety skills into action, while enjoying being outside. For many of the students it was their first time in a boat. The Rivers Institute was highlighted in an article in the Sidney Daily News.

The experience with the students, especially at their young age was a great addition to our educational outreach efforts! Seeing students, especially at their age, making connections to the water surrounding them was amazing. It is also so beneficial to continue to gain a regional perspective of our efforts surrounding the rivers.

Sorry, we are unable to access the article on-line, so it is pictured below.

Paddle in the Park

2011-06-06T11:59:00.001-07:00

Paddle in the Park was on June 4th this year held by Five Rivers MetroParks at Eastwood MetroPark. The Summer River Steward Interns volunteered their help and expertise with the event. Alex G. and Bethany R. were safety boaters out on the lake keeping people within the designated safety area while Jenny B., Nicole G., Lindsay R., Taylor P., and I helped fit people into boats and get them into the water. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm. There were over 1,000 people who filled out release forms to get in the water and many others who visited the 15+ exhibitor's tents. Overall, it was an amazing day. I got to help so many adults, children, and families into kayaks and canoes. I also got to pet more than 10 dogs and two MetroParks horses. It was an amazing day. The River Stewards are also known for getting their friends to come out and participate in MetroPark events like GearFest. We got several of our friends to come to the park and try out the boats. They all thoroughly enjoyed themselves and said so several times. It was just so nice to see all the people out padding around in boats and trying out paddle boards. All the events put on by MetroParks are great. But by being a River Steward and getting involved, it really makes me love the city of Dayton so much more. Maybe I'll stay here after college.

Rivermobile Planning, June 2nd

2011-06-06T09:31:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday, June 2nd was the kick-off meeting for the design phase of the Rivermobile. River Steward summer interns along with faculty met to brainstorm potential ideas of goals and student learning outcomes gained through the Rivermobile. Steve Wilhoit, Director of Writing, Research, and New Media, helped the group with a process for brainstorming ideas. Small groups organized thoughts into charts based on skills, knowledge, and attitudes that are beneficial to students participating in the Rivermobile, as well as undergraduate students who will plan and execute it.

These ideas will be formed into student learning outcomes that will be distributed and discussed at the Rivermobile Planning Workshop on June 16th. Below are a couple pictures from the day.

SOCHE Presentation

2011-04-12T11:03:00.000-07:00

Sarah, McLean, and I presented at the 2011 Ohio Higher Education Sustainability Conference. The conference took place at Sinclair Community College and was hosted by the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) and the Ohio Board of Regents. The event hosted various speakers on higher education and the work being done to collaborate and provide students and the community opportunities to become more sustainable. We shared with the group the Rivers Institute and highlighted the many projects we participate in with U.D. and the community.

Sarah shared information on the Rivers Institute and our goals to connect U.D. and the community to the river. Also, she described our dedication to undergraduate education and research based on the river.
McLean and I were able to share our experiences as part of the Rivers Institute and their connections to collaboration. McLean discussed how her experiences in mini-course have impacted her views on environmental/social justice policies and acquiring an internship with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality.
I talked about how experiences in the River Stewards program have impacted my view on education as well as the immeasurable experience being the educational outreach intern has lent to my views on community engagement and role as a future teacher.

Rob Harmon: How the market can keep streams flowing

2011-03-24T15:44:00.000-07:00

Interesting. I'm not 100% convinced but maybe this can spark some discussion with the stews!

The Cost of Natural Gas

2011-03-16T12:04:00.000-07:00

Water is undoubtedly one of the most precious commodities on our Earth, but I don’t need to tell you that. Still, in both water rich and water poor societies we continue to put our limited freshwater supplies in danger during our quest for new sources of fossil fuels, even here in Ohio.

Hydraulic fracturing, or ‘fracking,’ is a process of extracting natural gas from shale located hundreds, even thousands, of feet below the earth. It involves shooting a mixture of water, gravel, sand, and undisclosed toxic chemicals into deep wells to fracture the shale in attempts to bring the gas to the surface. Thanks to advancements in technology fracking is now an economically feasible way to get at these resources. In Ohio landowners as near as Yellow Springs have been approached about leasing the minerals rights under their property for fracking.

Fracking has been seen as a potential threat for three reasons: the possibility of aquifer and water table contamination, water depletion, and waste water disposal. Across the nation wells have been contaminated with the fracking water used by energy companies, making it impossible to drink. The process uses 3-6 million gallons of water per well, with only a small portion recoverable and none suitable for human consumption. With hundreds of wells in a given area, it quickly becomes a drain on the region’s aquifer and water resources. Finally, recent articles and studies suggest that most waste water facilities do not have the capacity to adequately treat this by-product, releasing a toxic and radioactive water back into our river systems.

What can we do about it? During Power Shift 2011 Ohio students will have the opportunity to join together to discuss how we can organize and influence change to stop fracking from spreading in our state. The Ohio Student Environmental Coalition is generously offering to help subsidize costs for up to 10 UD students interested in attending Power Shift in Washington D.C April 15-18th. If you or any student you may know is interested in more information about this amazing opportunity, please contact me at mclean.i.johnson@gmail.com. If left unchecked, fracking could cause serious problems across Ohio and to all of our watersheds.

New 1913?

2011-03-07T20:00:00.000-08:00

I was reading a copy of the Dayton Daily News today and stumbled upon the article about the flooding in the area: http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/more-rain-this-week-flooding-still-a-concern-1099101.html?cxtype=rss_local-newsIn the paper edition, it shows a large picture of Taylorsville Dam witthe water level nearly reaching the grass. If you guys remember, this is where we start orientation. Remember the calm, peaceful water as we put our boats in? The images today and yesterday of the river show gushing water, almost looking like rapids. It made me think of the show I watched the other day, and how relative depth area. I was watching 'Hooked' on National Geographic the other night (crazy show about wild fishing adventures all over the world, kind of like river monsters) and they were on the Congo River doing research on the some estimated 300,000 species of fish. The river was estimated, by the scientific team, to be deeper than 8500 ft in certain spots. The rapids, along an 80 mile stretch, are insurpassable by boat other than kayak. The episode showed four kayakers take on the huge rapids and whirpools. It's a great episode, if you get a chance to watch it. Here's a bit showing the rapids and some fish of the river:http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/hooked/3826/Videos/06321_00Here in Dayton, some areas are flooded just past 12 ft, like in Sidney. In the DRC, the Congo River is 100x the depth of the flooded Great Miami. It is scary for the locals here to think back to the 1913 flood, and the damage current levels might cause. Then you compare it to the monstrous size and power of the Congo, and the local peoples' scary situation, with their dependency on such an unstable resource (besides the civil war and dangerous rebel-controlled areas along the river).

CLEAN WATER ACT

2011-02-18T07:39:00.000-08:00

Cleaning up the clean water act.

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/02/17/17greenwire-regulation-haters-join-chorus-urging-new-clean-66183.html

Dominic

A Poem to Share

2011-01-26T12:00:00.000-08:00

I actually stumbled upon this while reading the introduction to a scientific journal article (further proof that scientists can be thoughtful poetic people as well!)
It made me think of Dayton...

I do not know much about gods; but I think the river
Is a strong brown god|sullen, untamed and intractable,
Patient to some degree, at rst recognized as a frontier;
Useful, untrustworthy, as a conveyer of commerce;
Then only a problem confronting the builder of bridges.
The problem once solved, the brown god is almost forgotten
By the dwellers in cities|ever, however, implacable,
Keeping his seasons and rages, destroyer, reminder
Of what men choose to forget. Unhonoured, unpropitiated
By worshippers of the machine, but waiting, watching and
Waiting.
T. S. Eliot, The dry salvages

Totally Ballah!

2011-01-13T12:53:00.001-08:00

http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2011/01/12/132831729/sudden-words-suddenly-gone

Ice skating at Riverscape

2011-01-13T10:59:00.000-08:00

First off, I hope everyone has had a wonderful winter break! I'm pretty excited to everyone again this coming semester. One weekend during my break, I decided to travel back to Dayton and ended up visiting Riverscape along with various other things. It was right before dusk and a storm was blowing in when I went Riverscape, there is outdoor ice skating at Riverscape right now for those who don't know. Being outdoors, winter, almost dark, and super windy add up to below zero temperatures. Despite the chill there was quite a coward at the rink, it provided a unique experience with the ordinary Dayton people. While the children skated, most of the parents sat around little gas fire-places chatted about various things in Dayton. I found it very interesting to listen to the non-professional view points on subjects from the city of Dayton to metro-parks to everything in between. Before leaving the ice rink, I did visit the river and took a couple photographs.

So I saw a few rivers in 2010....

2011-01-05T14:37:00.000-08:00

2010-12-08T18:20:00.000-08:00

This drawing of mine represents the moment that I truly felt like i belonged and fit in at the University of Dayton. River Stewards has given me so many opertunities that I would had never had unless I was part of this group. I have come to love the city of Dayton more than I thought I would. I have seen several different angles of Dayton and the view I drew is by far my favorite. When I saw the city from the river it was a clam and beautiful. A side of Dayton I had never experienced before. Because of River Stewards I truly feel like I have found my place both at the University of Dayton and have been connected to the City itself. I love River Stewards bottom line! Its my family away from home!

Two Christmas Parties in One Day!

2010-12-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

Christmas spirit is definitely in the air at the Fitz center! This past Friday I attended the Fitz Center Christmas Luncheon and then the River Stewards Christmas party. The Fitz Center Christmas luncheon transformed the KU W. Ballroom with poinsettias as center-pieces, Christmas cookies decorating the tables, and a pianist playing festive background music. After Mr. Ferguson welcomed everyone to the luncheon and Emily Kline led us in prayer, our lunch was served. The seating arrangements was a treat in itself because most of us sat with other divisions of the Fitz Center and it was a pleasure to meet more people and hear about what activities they do under the Fitz umbrella. Everyone that attended the luncheon walked away with a poinsettia and a snowman, or coffee mug. Also, I have to compliment the KU waiters for being so friendly and really making me feel welcome! It was a lovely lunch.

Christmas did not end there though; A couple of hours later the River Stewards had a Christmas party of our own! While munching on Christmas cookies, we each shared a reflection for the semester. Some people brought in pictures, shared stories, and even made collages (Ann). So many of the new stews shared fond memories and really seemed to be enjoying the River Stewards program. After the reflections we had our white elephant gift exchange! I was one of the higher numbers so I waited to see if I wanted to steal from anyone, and I did. I stole Golden Grahams from Ryan- thanks Ryan!

Overall, I had a wonderful, spirited day! Merry Christmas!

Dayton Explorers take UD students to the Dayton Art Institute

2010-11-29T19:45:00.000-08:00

The Dayton Explorers, the Senior Stewards’ capstone project, took 12 students to the Dayton Art Museum Saturday, November 20. This was our biggest turnout to date! We reached out to students through our Facebook group, also called Dayton Explorers, an email to all the international students, and a digital flyer shown below.

The Dayton Art Institute, located across the Monument Street Bridge from downtown, has been a Dayton establishment for 91 years. It is easily accessible, close to campus, and free! It was chosen as a destination of the Dayton Explorers because it is a hallmark of the Dayton cityscape and is a place of history. The museum displays a permanent collection and is temporarily featuring works by the Dayton native, Bing Davis. The Art Institute is truly a gem of downtown Dayton.

Out of the students that joined us for the trip, there were multiple first years and one graduate student in the group. Several of the attendants were also international students. A few of those who came on the trip had already been to the museum once, but for most of the students this was a new experience. The majors of the students also varied, adding even more variety to the already diverse group. Below are several photos taken throughout the trip.

For the Senior Stewards, planning these events has been a learning experience. Inspiring students to leave campus and to see what Dayton has to offer has been a challenge. We have discovered that students respond most to online advertising rather than paper flyers. In addition, students are often very willing to explore Dayton but need help in terms of providing transportation and pointing out specific sites around Dayton that would be the most interesting to students.

We are hopeful that when our events start up again next semester we will have even higher turnouts, and the diversity of the group shows that all different types of students are interested in exploring the Dayton area. Each successive event has garnered more attendees and with exciting event selections like the Air Force Museum and ice skating planned for next semester, we are hoping to increase our attendance levels even more.

Trotwood Madison

2010-11-22T09:17:00.000-08:00

Several stewards visited Trotwood Madison high school last week to teach the students how to kayak in the school’s pools. The stewards taught five class sessions and worked with the Swim and Dive class in addition to students with mental disabilities.

Many of the students recognized the stewards and were excited to work with them again. This was the Institute’s fourth time working with Trotwood Madison and the program will continue to be offered semi-annually in the future.

Photos on Photobucket

2010-11-19T07:17:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

For a little while now, I have been creating a Photobucket for us. This way everyone can view and enjoy multiple albums of pictures. They have been taken by different people from all sorts of our events over the past few years. It is not done yet, but pictures will continue to be added. Enjoy!

Search for: RiversInstituteUD
on Photobucket.com

or

RiversInstituteUD

Orientation 2010

Englewood Spring 2010

River Institute Meeting

2010-11-16T10:42:00.000-08:00

Today at the Rivers Institute meeting, we were able to hear from Susan Byrnes and Dennie Eagleson about their audio compilations from the orientation trip. Having not been able to go on the orientation trip due to scheduling conflicts, I was very excited to hear what everyone had to say.

Susan Byrnes, the director at Artstreet, compiled everyone saying three words describing the river or his or her expectations for the trip. After cycling through everyone saying their three words individually, she added a beat, some water sounds, and made the words echo. I'm sure Leslie will upload the audio to the blog.

Dennie Eagleson compiled the stewards' reactions after their first day of paddling on the river. It was pretty long but also gave some great insight into how much we love being on the river and how exciting our first experiences always are. The most common description of how everyone felt after the first day of paddling was "tired".

Leslie also brought up the idea of having these clips and possibly some stewards going on air with WUDR. According to Susan, students, as well as parents and alumni, listen to this show quite frequently because the shows are available online as well as on air. This would be a great idea for a different type of publicity.

I really enjoyed this part of the meeting because, having not been able to make orientation, I felt like I had missed out on how everyone reacted and felt about the experience. Now I get a glimpse of how cool it was and it makes me excited for next year's paddle.

The Dayton Development Coalition

2010-11-08T15:33:00.000-08:00

On Friday, Maureen Patterson came to speak to us representing the Dayton Development Coalition.

“The Dayton Development Coalition is the regional economic development and advocacy organization whose mission is to support job creation and prosperity for the citizens of the Dayton Region. Working as a public/private partnership, we are growing the Dayton Region, and we are one of the most livable regions in America.” (from the website)

http://www.getmidwest.com/aboutUs/index.cfm?sectionID=au

This organization is made up of a Board of Trustees ranging from a wide variety of occupations such as Dr. Daniel Curran, the President of our University of Dayton as well as many other academic and corporate committee members. Their focus in the Dayton region is on assets, universities, businesses, the workforce, and the community. In promoting this area, the four main types of businesses targeted are: Information Technology, Aerospace Research and Development, Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, and Human Sciences and Healthcare. The Dayton Development Coalition decided that these types of businesses would share in the most beneficial relationships between themselves and the Dayton region.

In doing this, they have established the H₂Open for Business program advertising the great water resources this area has to offer. The ideal types of businesses for this program would need extensive amounts of water and be responsible in its use. This program would boost economic development and bring many other opportunities to this area.

The H₂Open for Business is a well researched program that promotes the water resources, the Dayton region, the aquifer, the academic water resources, and the recreation and quality of life in the area. The Dayton Development Coalition wants to use this program to entice businesses that use water in their operations to consider the city of Dayton and the surrounding area as a location for expansion. According to the article, “The Ten Biggest American Cities That Are Running Out of Water” the lack of water issue is larger than most people realize.

http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/111186/the-ten-biggest-american-cities-that-are-running-out-of-water

If the Dayton area and its abundant water resources could be properly advertised in these dry cities, maybe more water intensive businesses would consider moving to this beneficial area. With the arrival of business, jobs and internships could be created, it would help boost the economy, generate academic opportunity, and renew innovation.

Not only does this area posses an exorbitant amount of renewable water systems, the community is very protective of their natural resources. The Dayton Water Conference is put on annually and sponsored by many local organizations where issues of business, development, sustainability, technology, and environment are all discussed.

http://www.daytonwaterconference.org/index.php

All the promotion to businesses will be advantageous for the Dayton region as long as one thing is kept in mind, the philosophical principle of Utility: the greatest good, for the most people, over the longest period of time. Economic growth would be great for any city, but not at the cost of the permanent damage of the natural resources. This area is truly fortunate to have these incredible resources, and with the support of a caring community, we can benefit and enjoy them for generations to come.

Region Water Assets from the Dayton Development Coalition:

http://www.getmidwest.com/resources/regionoverview/RegionWaterAssets.pdf

Philadelphia: Trying to Create a Riverfront

2010-11-08T09:40:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

While in the city of brotherly love this weekend, I found an editorial in The Philadelphia Inquirer. The editorial is a great example of how lucky we are in Dayton to have a riverfront with paths and a place like RiverScape to experience the river downtown. Also, this is another great example of a city trying use the riverfront as a place for community to come.

Inquirer Editorial: By the river

Along Philadelphia's waterfront, the street grid lives.
There may be problems with the draft master plan for the Delaware River waterfront, but it does appear to embrace the great idea of running streets down to the water in a modified grid pattern - just like any other real city neighborhood.
Adding streets to the former dockland and industrial properties along the river would be vital to creating the pedestrian-friendly community envisioned by Mayor Nutter's planned rebirth of the central seven-mile stretch along the Delaware.
But it also happens to be an aspect of the plan that seems to get under the collar of some developers, who see the waterfront as a site for big-parcel projects more along the lines of the suburbs.
Having their properties bisected by a street grid would turn such plans on their heads, forcing developers to think more creatively and to build designs for residential, entertainment, and commercial services that are more in keeping with an urban setting.
Nutter plans new parks, low-rise development, and better pedestrian access, including a new pedestrian bridge to South Street.
Gated communities surrounded by setbacks and "open space" where the public is barred won't bring life back to riverfront neighborhoods, no matter how many people buy condos. So it makes perfect sense to rely, in part, upon a grid design to shape what happens along the waterfront.
While the master plan no doubt will undergo modifications prior to its being made final, it's vital that the grid concept makes it into the final design.

Dayton's "Water Reclamation Plant"

2010-11-04T15:41:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, October 29th, the River Steward 2013 cohort made a visit to the Dayton Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP)... or more accurately called: the Water Reclamation Plant. The tour gave us an idea of what the necessary steps are for purifying the water that will be returned to the Great Miami River. The plant first opened in 1929, and is now capable of discharging 72 millions gallons of clean water each day!! The smell of the site was not too pleasing at some locations, but it was still interesting to actually see the steps from the waste water we produce each day to the clear water that is returned to the river. The reclaimed water can even contribute up to 40 to 50% of the total river flow during drought conditions.
Now you may be wondering what happens to all that "waste" that is removed from the water... the sludge is anaerobically digested into biosolids, which are then dehydrated and used as fertilizer on approved farms. The WWTP is under the control of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, which requires a certain degree of water purity before it can be discharged into the Great Miami River.
For more information about the Dayton WWTP, visit http://water.cityofdayton.org/Water/wwabout.asp

ASI 345 - Week 10

2010-11-04T11:53:00.000-07:00

Week 10 examined the regional-local continuum and how people perceive issues based on their understanding of a city or region. Janet Bednarek used several examples to show the different ways people identify the cities and regions they live in. Prior to class, the students participated in an online discussion about social issues surrounding rivers and how those issues can be viewed from a local or regional perspective. St. Louis was discussed as an example of how a river can serve as an economic and racial divide.

During the second half of the class Stan Kegley, Project Manager for the city of Troy, discussed Troy’s efforts to leverage the river as an asset for the city and the region. The Treasure Island River Series in Troy began several years and has moved forward while continuing to seek funding. The city hopes the Tin Roof restaurant and the river series will bring more people and attention to the river while making Troy and other cities along the river a destination.

Stan also began a discussion of Ohio’s Great Corridor which will continue in following weeks. Ohio’s Great Corridor focuses on advertising and promoting local and regional events and amenities throughout the Miami Valley.

ASI 345 - Week 9

2010-11-04T11:43:00.000-07:00

After reading about other cities that have piped their rivers and streams, the students traced the flow of UD’s very own Rubicon Creek which now flows underground carrying runoff from campus straight to the Great Miami. The class began with Bro. Don Geiger and Katie Schoenenberger reviewing sustainability and using maps to show the current path of the Rubicon Creek.

The students trekked out in the rain to four different sites on campus and reviewed historic photos of those locations. They answered questions about the cost/benefits of covering the Rubicon Creek and the sustainability of this practice.

Finally the students were asked to consider the Rubicon Creek and how UD should view sustainable planning in the future.

ASI 345 - Week 8

2010-11-04T11:07:00.000-07:00

Week 8 focused on power structures in a city, characteristics of each structure and when they are most effective. Janet Bednarek used the first half of the class to review the reading Power in the City and break down the different structures. Dick Ferguson then spent the remainder of the time applying the structures and roles to a current issue in Dayton: low-dam removal. This time was also used to discuss the Fitz Center’s model for community building and leadership.

Junior River Stewards visit Miamisburg

2010-10-29T07:59:00.000-07:00

On Friday, October 15th, the Junior River Stewards took a trip to the City of Miamisburg to continue learning about Ohio's Great Corridor, including the communites living along it and their wonderful river and downtown opportunities. A big thanks to Katie Frank, the Miamisburg Downtown Development Coordinator, who organized a great program! The Stewards met with the Mayor of Miamisburg and listened to him talk about the city's history all the way to the present and their vision for the future. We also heard from Debbie McLaughlin, the Director of Parks and Recreation of Miamisburg, who explained the current and longterm plans for their riverfront park project.

We ended with a great tour of the downtown and met with merchant owners who are actively involved in the Miamiburg Merchant Association. It was interesting to hear what drew each of them to opening up their business in the historic storefront of Miamisburg. We all had a great time and appreciate the wonderful hospitality we received from everyone....not to mention the yummy cookies from Star City Cafe and the free hamburger coupons from the Hamburger Wagon. We also stopped by Great Miami Outfitters and A Tase of Wine. Looking forward to our next visit.....Thanks!!!

News from Maine

2010-10-25T15:58:00.000-07:00

Hello All!
I hope this post finds you well. I've sent out an email through Leslie that has a video update I've prepared for your viewing pleasure.
But, in case you haven't seen this already, here's a little something I've been up to in Maine.
Love and miss you all!
Katie

p.s. You can't see the description for this video I put on YouTube so I'll copy it here:

"Ok, so this is proof that I have indeed learned to roll, but that I also need lots more practice.
Keep in mind, this was definitely not my best roll, especially because I knew the pressure was on from the camera recording (and also because my instructor was cute!)"

Sophomore Mini-Course - Tree Tour!

2010-10-20T09:01:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, the sophomore Stewards went on UD's tree tour. The tour was created by senior Steward Nolan Nicaise. http://see.udayton.edu/digitalAssets/1885_UD_Tree-Trail.pdf

The tour guides you to 20 trees around campus providing interesting information about each tree species.

The Stewards spent some quality time together learning about each tree and enjoying the fall colors.

ASI 345 - Week 7

2010-10-17T20:33:00.000-07:00

After learning about Pittsburgh and Dayton’s plentiful water resources, week 8 examined water law and the development of Los Angeles with a scarcity of water. Blake Watson, a professor from UD’s School of Law, led the class through a case study he developed for understanding water law in the United States. The class explored the differences in prior appropriation and riparian right and how water laws developed differently in the east and the west as a result of quality and quantity issues. The session called on the class’s understanding of groundwater, how water moves through the aquifer and ecosystem services.

The article California Scheming and video clips from the documentary “Cadillac Desert” provided an in depth look at the development of Los Angeles and how the city secured its future by draining the Owens Valley. Unfortunately, more and more cities around the world are facing water shortages and must find new ways of securing water. The class will build upon this topic later in the semester as we examine global water issues.

ASI 345 - Week 6

2010-10-15T09:14:00.001-07:00

Staying true to an experiential nature, the class went on its fourth fieldtrip in six weeks. How else could we expect the class to experience the power of river city without taking them downtown? The majority of the class took place in Five Rivers Recreation Department’s offices.

Dr. Janet Bednarek began the class with a discussion of the reading and presentation on the evolution of Pittsburgh as a river city. Greg Brumitt, Director of Recreation at Five Rivers, led the second part of the class examining Dayton as a river city and recent efforts to revitalize the region through our water resources. More specifically, the Greg chronicled the evolution of the low dam removal discussion in recent years.

The session ended with a walk along the levy walls at RiverScape and a discussion of options for making our rivers safer and more accessible in the future.

ASI 345 - Week 5

2010-10-15T08:27:00.000-07:00

After learning about and experiencing the river, it was time to take a step back and learn about the flood plains. For this class, the students ventured to a goat prairie overlooking the Great Miami and Hills and Dales MetroPark. The session began in the classroom reviewing aerial maps of the sites we were about to visit in relation to the river and aquifer.

At Calvary cemetery, a short hike through a wooded area brought the class to a relict goat prairie with a great view of the activity on the flood plain. Bro. Don Geiger led the class in imagining the changes that have taken place since Dayton was founded and understanding the impact of developing on the flood plains.

At Hills and Dales, Susan Byrnes led the group in an observation activity. Looking through a square cutout, each student focus on a single area in front of them noting first the physical attributes, then looking a little deeper using knowledge to make assumptions about those attributes. The final task was to look at the same area with a third eye; a greater appreciation of what they saw without looking to explain or classify it. The first two tasks proved to be much easier.

Through the fieldtrip, the class saw a great comparison between the developed flood plains of the Great Miami and the natural headwater area in Hills and Dales. They learned a valuable technique for making observations and an appreciation for reflection. Finally as the class traveled back to campus, the students were shocked to learn just how close Hills and Dales is to UD and what a great place it is to reconnect with nature.

ASI 345 - Saturday field experience

2010-10-15T08:14:00.001-07:00

To gain a better understanding of the river science material and to witness the power of Dayton as a river city, the class paddled down the Mad River making a few key stops along the way. After launching the kayaks at Harshman Rd. in Eastwood MetroPark, we paddle downstream until reaching a gravel island in the middle of the river. Waiting there was Dr. Kavanaugh and Dr. Benbow. The class was split into two groups for fish shocking and macro-invertebrate sampling.

Dr. Kavanaugh reviewed the river continuum concept and talked to the students about habit, biological indicators, and what they mean for the health of the river. Each student took turns holding the shocker and rotated between holding the live well and scooping up with the stunned fish with axillary nets. The diversity of fish species we found and their intolerance of pollution indicated a vibrant and healthy river.

The results from macro-invertebrate sampling painted a similar picture. Students divided into groups of two and used D-frame nets to collect as many species as possible. The cool, clear water passing quickly over a small ripple provided a great habitat for macros; many of which are pollution intolerant.

After eating lunch on the island, the group continued paddling down to the convergence of the Mad and Great Miami and took out at RiverScape (after playing in the fountains of course). The paddle provided an opportunity for students to see Dayton in a whole new light preparing them to begin learning about river cities the next week.

ASI 345 - Week 4

2010-09-29T09:38:00.000-07:00

For class 4, students explored more of the Great Miami watershed as well as their hometown watershed. Felicia Graham, Environmental Compliance Coordinator for the City of Dayton’s Water Department, discussed Dayton’s storm water system and what the city does to protect our rivers. The presentation stressed personal responsibility andexamined Dayton’s drinking water history. The class then had a chance to tour the city’s camera truck which is used to examine and monitor the inside of storm drains.

Sister Leanne Jablonski facilitated the second part of the class focusing on each student’s hometown watershed. The homework assignment for the class was to identify their connection to their watershed and conduct research on their drinking water source, the health of their rivers and other pertinent information. After discussing their finding in small groups, each student located their watershed on a map and shared something interesting they discovered and something they still wondered with the class. The exercise provided an opportunity for the students to learn about each other while engaging in their own watershed as well as Dayton’s.

Paddling Trip

2010-09-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

Dayton Explorers Activity #1: Paddling

Allie giving a Demonstration

Ending at Riverscape

2012 to Troy

2010-09-20T18:55:00.000-07:00

In mini-course this past Friday the Junior River Stewards ventured north to the city of Troy. We were greeted by Stan Kegley at the Tin Roof (Try the cupcakes- they're delicious!) We were given the opportunity to see how Troy, the Tin Roof, and Treasure Island have all utilized their stretch of the Great Miami River both in the past and present. From pre-1913 to present day, we examined the different relationships the city has had with the river and the reasons for them.

Today, Troy is a prime example of what we need to strive to create on the river to make the Ohio's Great Corridor project a success. They have created an outstanding outdoor recreation program with a strong emphasis on the river. To quote Mr. Kegley, "If you gave me 50 boats, I could fill them!" Treasure Island also offers a triathalon (held this past weekend), ghost stories around a campfire in October, and a Survivor/Amazing Race competition coming in Summer 2011. These activites and more can really pull people to come down to the river front and help them gain an appreciation for what a resource they have in their backyard. It is important that as one river corridor, as one river system, we keep our focus on the big picture - we are all connected by one river!

ASI 345 - Week 3

2010-09-17T10:34:00.000-07:00

The third RLC class introduced the students to the science behind a river system, the aquifer, and the watershed. In preparation for class they read an ESA article entited Water in a Changing World, along with fact sheets on floods and watersheds. Dr. Eric Benbow presented on the three topics during the first part of the class stressing the River Continuum Concept, the Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer and the connection between surface and ground water. Katie Schoenenberger demonstrated this connection through with a model simulating how water (and contamination) move through the aquifer.

The second half of the class, Dr. Hippensteel Hall presented on the history of Dayton’s rivers, urbanization trends and practical things each of us can do to help keep the river clean. The discussion included the effects of runoff from construction sites, household lawns, and parking lots as well as steps that can be taken to reduce runoff and options for low impact development.

Next week the class will focus on the City of Dayton’s Water Department, innovative steps Dayton has taken to keep our rivers clean, and the students’ connection to their hometown watershed. We invite those interested in the class to join us on Tuesdays from 3:00-5:45 in RecPlex meeting room B.

Mohican Adventure

2010-09-14T18:31:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!

SO, this past weekend a few friends and I traveled up to Mohican State Park for a camping trip. It was so wonderful to get out into nature again. Within 10 minutes of being at the park, my roomate witnessed her first shooting star! This was a definite sign that the trip was going to be a success. We set up camp Friday night and went to bed early after some more time spent star-gazing. Saturday morning we woke up bright and early and went hiking. We saw some amazing sights and even took a break to play in the river :). The most eventful part of our trip was most definitely an early morning kayak trip. 12 miles of peaceful paddling was a perfect end to our weekend away!

ASI 345 - Week 1 & 2

2010-09-10T09:20:00.000-07:00

After two weeks of classes, ASI 345 River Leadership is well underway! During the first class, the students learned about the unique process and development of the course as well as the Fitz Center and the Rivers Institute. After covering the syllabus, student learning outcomes and the logistics of the course, the class launched into a discussion on the common good examining it from an economic perspective and emphasizing the sociological and policy implications. To gain a better understanding of the common good, the class traveled to SunWatch Archeological Park along the Great Miami to learn about the Fort Ancient Indians and this river civilization's understanding of the common good.

After exploring the tragedy of the commons and what the common good means to each student, the second class challenged the students to create a definition of sustainability for the class to use throughout the remainder of the semester. Emily Klein, graduate assistant for the Fitz Center, led the class through a discussion of the reading Hope and Hard Times and led an exercise in nominal group technique to help the students develop a definition everyone could agree upon. The students started by brainstorming terms and concepts they felt were essential to sustainability. After listing all the ideas, each person picked the five concepts they felt were the most important. The class then construction a definition using the concepts and terms voted more relevant.

Class definition: "Sustainability is a community-wide effort to protect and restore the environment which requires citizen responsibility, interdisciplinary perspective and leadership continually working towards achievable step-wise goals of engaging with nature, increasing awareness, and balancing natural resources for the long-term common good of the natural world and its inhabitants."

The session focused on sustainability, but was also a lesson in leadership. The nominal group technique stresses the importance of listening to others' ideas, balancing inquiry and advocacy, and working together to create a shared vision where each person can recognize their contribution to the final product.

A Stew's Trip to Togo

2010-08-25T14:44:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful summer in Togo, Africa. I was warmly welcomed by the people and had a life changing experience. We originally went to Togo to build latrines but upon arrival we found out that an NGO had already built them. We then talked to the village chief and his counsel about how we could help their village. The village chief came to us and said that we could help his village by designing and building a soccer field. The World Cup was going on in South Africa so everyone had soccer fever. We figured that the soccer field would allow the children in the village to make lifelong friendships with other village soccer teams as well as become a place where the community could gather and celebrate. We designed the soccer field to be regulation size so tournaments could be held. In the end, everyone was very happy. In thanksgiving the village chief gave us a bucket of yams, one live cock, and our choice of the village women to marry. I enjoyed the yams and chicken.

Summer Paddling Programs Come to a Close

2010-08-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

It was a busy summer for the Rivers Institute and the first for implementing a series of paddles that brought the UD and Dayton communities physically to the river. With the help of a small grant from the Greater Dayton Conservation Fund (GDCF), the Rivers Institute certified staff and students with the American Canoe Association to be official kayak instrustors and bought more equipment to allow us to carry out this new summer programming. Looking back at the summer, not only can we say that we brought over 85 people to the river but we can also say that we helped foster of a sense of pride/place in Dayton as a river city with our participants, while building relationships and community along the way.

(Students & Staff at the Neighborhood School Centers enjoy EastWood MetroPark's Blue Hole)

We started the summer off by inviting groups that we tend to collaborate with throughout the academic year, like Campus Ministry, RecPlex, the Fitz Center and ArtStreet. We then enjoyed the opportunity to work with the BlueSky project by offering river inspiration and team building opportunities to their artists, both professional and student. We then branched out to work with the Dayton Development Coalition, the Neighborhood School Centers of Dayton Public Schools and the Wellness Team for Cleveland Elementary School. By this time, we were ready to wrap things up and invited the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Dean's Office to join us for the last paddle of the season, as a way to show appreciation for all the hard work and support they provide the Rivers Institute.

(The CAS Dean's Office sets off for their two hour paddle down the Mad River)

(The CAS Dean's Office comes around the bend and paddles towards Downtown Dayton)

(Dick Ferguson races to play in the fountains at RiverScape)

All of the groups enjoyed the chance to see Dayton from a new lens, while learning about our local watershed and developing leadership amongst their respective departments out-of the-office. Our participants were also able to experience what the Rivers Institute is all about, first-hand......And I think it is safe to say, EVERYONE had a great time!

Thanks to everyone who participated in and helped staff the programs. We look forward to taking more groups on the river next summer and hope to see you out there between now and then!

(The CAS Dean's Office rafts up for a group picture at RiverScape)

Feel free to check previous posts to see pictures of the other participating groups.

Poland

2010-07-31T13:42:00.000-07:00

This summer I went to Poland with my family for my cousin's wedding. After the three day wedding, my Polish relatives took us around and showed us Poland. One place we visited was the Hel Peninsula--this is located in northern Poland in the water's of the Baltic Sea. Along the boardwalk there were several posters that had pictures that showed the effects of people not taking care of land, water, and animals. Even though I can't read Polish, I got the point because 'a picture speaks a thousand words'. I thought my fellow River Stewards might also appreciate these pictures. And, maybe it might give us some ideas for something we could do to promote taking care of the river and other assets that we have.

This fish was constructed out of garbage that was found in the water and they transformed it into an artistic statement.

Check out this video!

2010-07-18T06:18:00.000-07:00

Clean Sweep Video

Rivers Institute participates in 2010 Clean Sweep!

2010-07-18T06:09:00.000-07:00

River clean up yields odd bits of treasure amid tons of trash

By Steve Bennish, Staff Writer

Updated 4:38 PM Saturday, July 17, 2010

DAYTON — A shopping cart, a lawnmower, a broken small parts cabinet, a bicycle, a half eaten jar of pickle, a despised orange traffic cone, a tire sidewall. Countless plastic bottles and paper wrappers.

Such were the fruits of labor gathered by 900 volunteers along the Great Miami River for Clean Sweep 2010 Friday July 16, the annual event that ensures river corridors are wildlife-rich, scenic and healthy places.

Dragonflies and butterflies hovered and danced in the heat as volunteers arrived from local schools, the Dayton Department of Recreation’s camping program, area correctional facilities and corporate sponsors including Cox Media Group, parent company of the Dayton Daily News.

Alex Taylor, Cox Media Group vice president, told 100 volunteers at MacIntosh Park that “this river is the crown jewel of Dayton. It’s the reason Dayton was founded here. It’s our greatest natural resource.” Andrew Fahlund, vice president for conservation for the nonprofit group American Rivers, called on volunteers to be “lifelong stewards of the Great Miami River.”

Reshawn Mize, 13, of Trotwood, a bass fisherman, came out to “help the community and the animals - the ducks and swans,” he said. He brought his visiting cousin from Florida, Jordan McConnell, 13, and brother Cercharles McConnell, 14, also of Trotwood.

Felicia Graham, environmental compliance coordinator for the city, said it would be nice if more remembered to police their trash. Litter thrown in the street washes into the river through storm drains. You can report a litterer and the person’s license plate number to a Montgomery County Hotline at 225-4999, Graham said.

By July 24 when volunteers in Logan County finish their efforts, 150 miles of the Great Miami River corridor from Indian Lake to the Ohio River will have been cleaned.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7407 or sbennish@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Clean Sweep of the Great Miami River 2010!

2010-07-14T07:17:00.000-07:00

Friday July 16th and Saturday July 24th.
Check it out:
http://miamiconservancy.org/water/clean_up.asp

Blue Sky Artist Inspired by Dayton's Rivers

2010-07-08T11:17:00.000-07:00

Victoria Theatre Association and the Blue Sky Project presents

Of A River
Live Performance Installation featuring
m u s i c ~ d a n c e ~ s i l k

Shaw Pong Liu & Rodney Veal
July 22, 2010
7pm & 9pm
Winter Garden @ The Schuster Center
free to the public
www.blueskydayton.org
www.victoriatheatre.com

click here for pictures and the blog post from when the Rivers Institute paddled with the Blue Sky artists.

Pittsburgh’s revival shows way for Dayton

2010-07-07T06:50:00.000-07:00

$158 million of riverfront development and downtown rehabilitation has brought new, vibrant residents into the city. By Lucas Sullivan, Staff Writer - Monday, July 5, 2010

DAYTON — Pittsburgh was Dayton 10 years ago: Empty smokestacks serving as vacant museums of a booming industrial past, blighted neighborhoods and a once-bustling downtown abandoned after business hours.

And like Dayton, several plans to revitalize the city quietly vanished as elected and business leaders struggled to reach a consensus on what should be done or how it should be funded.
Today, Pittsburgh offers proof an industrial town can be reborn — and is a possible blueprint for cities like Dayton to follow.

Pittsburgh officials say $4 billion in revenue has been breathed into the region’s economy after pouring $158 million ($90 million public) into riverfront development and rehabbing 12 downtown buildings for residential use.

The city boasts a downtown occupancy rate of 93 percent with an overwhelming majority of new residents between the ages of 21 and 35, a jackpot for any community developer.
Dayton has a riverfront, young people and lots of potential for downtown housing. The question is whether there is the will to make it happen.

“It takes a leap of faith,” said Rob Stephany of Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority. “It takes a savvy developer who knows the ins and outs of tax credits. It takes the right team (of public and private leaders) and a group of people who aren’t scared.”

Dayton isn’t starting from scratch. It’s newly opened RiverScape park addition nicely complements nearby Fifth Third Field and CareSource’s new building. A plan to put kayaks and other recreation on the river seems to have some support.

But while public and private leaders tout the success of the Dayton Dragons in bringing people downtown, there’s been little spinoff development or impact on restaurants downtown or in the Oregon District. It’s a small pearl on a big necklace.

“There has been a lot of vitality added to downtown, but I agree we need more versatility as far keeping people here,” said Sandy Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership. “We have to find ways to better use the river because it’s our economic engine. It’s time to get something done.”

A percussion concert on the river.....

2010-07-02T11:32:00.000-07:00

Can we have our own version of this in Dayton on the Great Miami River?

Video: A rare performance of "Persephassa" by the Greek composer Iannis Xenakis was an ambitious offering of the fourth annual Make Music New York festival.

I think we can do better.....

The River Stewards will be working with So Percussion during their visit to UD this fall. Stewards will orient them to Dayton, our local water resources and to our rivers via kayk during their mini-course on October 1st. Maybe So Percussion can teach us a little about orchestrating a live on-the-river performance!

Calvary Cemetery and Hills and Dales Field Trip

2010-06-30T14:17:00.000-07:00

On June 29, Brother Don Geiger, Maggie Varga, Kristen Crum, and I went to Calvary Cemetery and Hills and Dales Metro park to test out one of the possible field trips for the upcoming RLC class. We drove to Calvary Cemetery first to look at examples of the land use in Dayton and how some of the eskers (sand/gravel) from the glaciers are being used.

We also looked over one of the floodplains and what was built on it, as well as the other side of the valley, which is a landfill. One of the pictures shows this. Where we were standing was on a prairie. Brother Geiger was able to pick out rare plants on the prairie side. The contrast from where we were standing to what we overlooked was quite different to think about.

Then we went to Hills and Dales Metro Park and went to the Patterson Monument, which gave us a great view of the NCR golf course. That would be a good spot to have a mini course if we were to have one out there. It turned out to be a very productive field trip!

Riverscape Ribbon Cutting

2010-06-29T06:06:00.000-07:00

On June 28 Five Rivers MetroParks cut the ribbon for the Phase III expansion of Riverscape. The River Steward interns were present on the water, while Leslie mingled under the new tent at the pavilion. The Riverscape expansion includes a tented pavilion, a bike hub complete with bike storage and showers, and beautiful landscaping. This addition to the Great Miami River will continue to show people what an asset we truly have in the river and the potential that it has for not only Dayton, but the entire Great Miami Corridor. As Mayor Leitzell said "This is living proof that Dayton isn’t dead."