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Environmental club members at Athens Drive Magnet High School got an introduction to water quality this week.

Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop paid a special visit to the Raleigh school, meeting with the next generation of freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior environmentalists.

“We talked about water quality, why it should matter to high schoolers and different ways we can tell whether a waterway is healthy or not,” Sam said.

Sam and the dozen-plus teens visited nearby Lake Johnson where she could give them a hands-on lesson—students took turns exploring with the YSI, a multiparameter instrument that measures several critical water-quality parameters including dissolved oxygen, turbidity and pH.

“Lake Johnson was well under the state standards, so that was great,” Sam said. “It was not the least bit turbid.”

Sam was introduced to environmental leaders at the school through North Carolina Conservation Network, and she’s hopeful the environmental club will stay in touch.

“Next year’s leaders want to connect with (Sound Rivers Volunteer Coordinator) Emily Fritz, so they can get in on Sound Rivers’ volunteer opportunities,”  Sam said.