University hosts inaugural Autobell ‘Creek Challenge’ school competition

UNC Charlotte’s Center for STEM Education was the location for the finals of a novel competition, the Creek Challenge, which tested participating elementary students on their knowledge of local waterways.

The challenge, held in conjunction with the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute and sponsor Autobell Car Wash, resulted from a pilot program of a unique water-related science program being used in nine Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) elementary schools.

CMS students learned about regional water quality issues and their role as stewards of this important resource. The University’s Center for STEM Education and Urban Institute, along with staff from Autobell, developed curriculum and activities; the program began earlier this year with teacher training, followed by classroom and onsite educational creek activities for students.

Teams of fourth and fifth grade students used customized Autobell Creek Challenge kits that contained materials to learn specific water knowledge details and the necessary equipment to conduct related tests and experiments as part of the curriculum pilot. Classrooms were provided with maps and pamphlets detailing various Mecklenburg County creek sheds.

Paw Creek, Huntersville, Parkside, Elizabeth Traditional, Reedy Creek, Highland Mill Montessori, Rama Road, Endhaven and Steele Creek were the participating CMS elementary schools.

Champions at the school level advanced to the final competition at UNC Charlotte. Autobell awarded prizes to participants and the winners of each contest. Top three overall winning schools were Elizabeth Traditional, Steele Creek and Parkside.

Autobell Car Wash, founded in Charlotte in 1969, advocates water conservation message and funded the Creek Challenge project as a follow-up to KEEPING WATCH on WATER: City of Creeks, a spring 2015 series of art and museum exhibits, online materials and public events that focused on Mecklenburg County’s urban waterways. KEEPING WATCH was a multi-year initiative from the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute and the UNC Charlotte College of Arts + Architecture to draw attention to environmental topics.