Splashing through shallow water in Connected Lakes State Park, local kids were on the hunt Monday morning for all types of tiny invertebrate animals and insects that might tell them a bit about water quality and health of the local ecosystem. The kids are taking part in RiversEdge West’s annual Wellspring Project — a free four-day river education and art program for middle school students in the Grand Valley. … The rest of the week is full of activities centered around rivers and water, learning about agriculture and wildlife, creating art and capping it all off with a raft trip on the Gunnison River. “We learn all about water in the West and the Colorado and Gunnison rivers and we end our week with a float trip down one of the rivers — this year, the Gunnison River, because the Colorado is a little low,” [Education and Outreach Coordinator at RiversEdge West Nicole] Cook said.

Other water education news:

• Environmental Defense Fund: Blog: Building water leadership through community in the Salinas Valley