The first year of the Tucker Fellows Program at GPS has begun. The six members of the first GPS cohort were announced on Class Day in May. Selected in a competitive process, these young rising freshmen "show promise of becoming leaders, change agents, and active stewards of our precious water resources,' officials said.
Thanks to a grant from the Tucker Foundation, two students from Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy (CGLA) are joining the GPS students this summer in a week-long educational experience that kicks off the two-year study of the Tennessee River.
In activities designed by Program Director and Middle School science teacher Katye Couch, the girls are spending two days exploring the Tennessee River Gorge by kayak. Led by Outdoor Chattanooga, the group visited wildlife preserves and camped on protected lands. Other adventures during the week include a tour of a wastewater treatment plant, demonstrations in electro-shocking fish, a river cruise to the dam, and fly fishing. During the 2014-15 academic year, members of the GPS cohort will engage in meaningful activities that will increase their understanding of the historical, ecological, and aesthetic significance of the river as well as learn about the issues that affect their local watershed.
Learn more about the Tucker River Fellows program here.
“Because we live and work on the Tennessee River, it influences all that we do,” said faculty member Katye Couch, and the program will ensure that “future generations of Chattanoogans will value our beautiful natural resources and understand the power and influence of our river.”