As we continue to make our way down the Fraser River, our most recent stop was Prince George.  Our discussion of Prince George and Quesnel has centred around natural resources.  We talked about the railway coming to these two towns and how it supported the resource economy.  We have discussed clear-cuts, sawmills (still to come, the Gold Rush), and the environmental impacts associated with some of these industries.  We have been discussing the impact that barge fires on the Fraser, wash-outs from the clear-cuts, and even chemical and oil spills from barges and railway cars might have on the salmon.

A few weeks ago, the students ran a simulation of an oil spill and used materials such as skimmers (spoon), cotton and sponge absorbing booms, and chemical dispersants (Dawn dishwashing soap).  The red Lego piece represents a turned-over railway car.  The objective was to keep the oil from getting to the rock (beach/riverbank) on the far side.  It was much harder than the students thought it would be and one of the surprises was how much garbage we created in trying to soak up the oil.