Kids relish learning during a salty voyage

FOUR MILES FROM SHORE IN THE GREAT SALT LAKE, Davis County — Colby Neuman asks a dozen children what lives in the lake.

"Brine shrimp," said one boy sitting on the ship's deck and wearing a name tag with a representation of that creature. "Yep, brine shrimp is one," Neuman replied.

"Algae?" said a fourth-grade girl. "Algae's another," Neuman agreed.

"Grebe," a voice said softly.

"Are there any fish?" a girl asked, louder.

"Not fish," he said. "Nope. 'Cause — why can't fish live in the Great Salt Lake?"

"Too salty!" chorused the group wearing brine shrimp tags.

Brine fly larvae was one of the right answers. But only after coaxing and hints did the youngsters name another type of life in Utah's inland sea: bacteria.

Neuman, a meteorology graduate student at the University of Utah, is one of the scientists with Project WEST that is teaching the youngsters about the biology, hydrology, chemistry, water density, geology, prehistory and salt content of the lake.

Project WEST (Water, the Environment, Science and Teaching), is based at the U. and sponsored by the National Science Foundation. It aims to help elementary and middle-school students learn about science through hands-on experience. Partners in the program include the university, the Utah Museum of Natural History and the Salt Lake City School District. The Utah Geological Survey also lends a hand.

Major assistance comes from Steve Ingram, owner and captain of the ship, as he offered the educational cruises at far below usual cost, seeking only reimbursement of expenses.

This past Tuesday morning, 53 third-graders and fourth-graders from two elementary schools, Ensign and Parkview, were aboard the Island Serenade with about eight WEST instructors, project director Holly Godsey, a school district science specialist, two teachers, three parents and a teacher's aide.

Students from Ensign Elementary, 775 12th Ave., wore caps embroidered with JRP, for Junior Ranger Program. Students from Parkview Elementary, Glendale, had no special headgear. Some were born in the United States, some were refugees from the Sudan, some were immigrants from Latin American countries.

"I've had three kids tell me that they've never seen a boat before," said their teacher, Pam Fitches. "We have some kids who hardly speak any English at all."