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o 0 t~e ~e~chers led a similar Coast-to-Coast trip in the summer of 1998. On that trip, 22 students traveled around the country studying water resources issues. Teachers noted that the most successful portions of the trip involved the case study discussions with resource professionals, during which students learned not only about water resource problems, but also how the many players and factors caused and have continued to fuel the problems. "Students were gready affected by how natural resource issues impacted people - we could see their passion grow for each issue as they learned about it," explained Sensenig. "Consequendy, this year's trip will have a different focus. Our theme is 'Finding a Land Ethic' and we'll be researching case studies in resource management at each stop." Our Environment, Coast-to-Coast (continued) MARCH 2000, ISSUE #60 Case Studies Across the Country The first opportunity to explore a case study will take place in April before the official 2000 trip begins. The group will travel to Port Isobel, Virginia, in the Chesapeake Bay to explore how nutrient runoff affects the bay. There they will learn how the lifestyles of people living on the bay and in its watershed can affect a larger environmental resource and the people who depend on it. Students will talk to diverse stakeholders, including watermen, Chesapeake Bay educators, and legislators to try to gain an understanding of the complex challenges faced in managing the health of the bay. The students will be challenged to be creative in solving problems and will be asked to answer the question "What should be done to protect these ecosystems?" Later in the summer, on the other side of the country, the students will study riparian issues in an arid climate. While rafting down the Colorado River, the students will learn about the mechanics and general health of our nation's rivers. The students will then explore riparian management issues a10ngthe Colorado River, addressing the views of diverse stakeholders involved in local river use and protection. They'll discuss how and why human use has affected the riparian areas along the Colorado River. After considering the multifaceted problem, students will be asked to suggest how the river should be managed. "This is an applied, rather than theoretical approach," noted Sensenig. "Students will be asked to consider how what they learned can be applied to similar problems across the country. In fact, after the trip we hope to continue to engage students in direct dialogue with researchers across the country who are dealing with these issues." Twenty-one additional stops are currendy scheduled (see box). Each will allow the students to delve deeply into a local resource issue, gaining a thorough understanding of why a problem exists. When appropriate, students will gather environmental data to help them further understand the issues. Students will be required to keep a log of each day's events and learning experiences. Today's web-based technology will allow students to share their thoughts and questions with the world during and after the trip. Students will maintain the "Coast-to-Coast 2000" web site daily, including updates about the current case study and posting of NONPOINT SOURCE NEWS-NOTES 21