This spring, students will roll up their sleeves and become field scientists in Arizona's riparian areas with the help of local volunteers. Maricopa County's Master Gardeners and Master Watershed Stewards are volunteering to mentor 1,500 middle school students from the Phoenix metropolitan area in field investigations. Volunteers joined Arizona Project WET, part of Cooperative Extension, last week to learn about their role as Mentor Scientists. Reading instructions and working as a team, as students will have to do, they conducted the dissolved oxygen test on pond water. The volunteers are challenged to facilitate learning, a much harder task than presenting and imparting knowledge. Acting more like coaches, APW Mentor Scientists guide students, allowing them to figure things out for themselves, even to fail.

During 15 field days this spring at three riparian preserves, the Mentor Scientists will certify students in scientific skill building while facilitating student-led investigations on the health of riparian areas. In 2015, Mentor Scientists logged 851 volunteer hours during the field season. APW provides avenues for community members to participate in educating Arizona's youth and share their passion for the natural world.