Blue Thumb Volunteer Spotlight | Suzanne Miller
What inspired you to get involved with Blue Thumb?
I taught high school Biology at Pawnee High School, Pawnee, Oklahoma, for 30 years. In the fall of 2017, I attended the Blue Thumb Volunteer training in Stillwater, Oklahoma, with the intention of involving as many of my students as possible. This opportunity helped students better understand water quality, water testing lab techniques, and made it very relevant as it was their creek – “The Bear” – as it is affectionately referred to in our small community. Students were involved in the creek monitoring, water quality lab tests, site trash pickup, and picking out the macroinvertebrates collected at the site. The site I monitor is Black Bear Creek in the northern part of town.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with Blue Thumb?
In May of 2021, I retired, and I still enjoy monitoring The Bear alone or with my husband. It is so interesting to see the changes that occur over time, whether natural or man-made. I always see wildlife, evidence of wildlife, and their interactions with the creek. I also enjoy when Candice brings the macroinvertebrates we have collected to Pawnee schools, and we involve the students in the bug-picking! In the futur,e I hope to involve the new science teachers more in all things Bluet Thumb.
How long have you been with the program?
A little over 7 years. The first time I monitored was March 2018.
Is there a memorable moment or lesson from your time with Blue Thumb that stands out?
The most memorable moment(s) was the monitoring that occurred during the school year of 2018-2019. Due to a very strange and unique schedule, I ended up with a biology class of only 4 students. We loaded up once a month to monitor the creek during our class time. The students loved it!
Blue Thumb Volunteer | Nick Czaplewski