May 4, 2021
Submitted photo
Josh Emanuelson, Little Beaver Creek Watershed coordinator for the county Soil and Water Conservation District, addresses Southern Local fifth-graders and juniors who will partner for a study on the population decline of the Eastern Hellbender salamander.
SALINEVILLE Fifth-graders are teaming up with high school juniors to help solve a wildlife conundrum how to save the Eastern Hellbender salamander from going into extinction. Southern Local and Crestview are participating in a problem-based learning activity in connection with the county Soil and Water Conservation District, SilverApple Inc. and county Educational Service Center.
The program kicked off last week with an assembly in the Southern gym where roughly 50 fifth-graders and three juniors in SLHS biology teacher Jess Krulik’s class heard presentations from Kathy Bennett, educational specialist for SilverApple, and Josh Emanuelson, Little Beaver Creek watershed coordinator for SWCD.