In 2025, the Visitor Center underwent a comprehensive renovation and was expanded, with support from the Wilo-Foundation, to include a modern Wet Lab Classroom where students can analyze water samples from the creek and surrounding ponds and examine them under the microscope. Photo: Riveredge Nature Center

The Wet Lab Classroom is part of the comprehensive modernization of the Visitor Center at the Riveredge Nature Center in the United States. With the support of the Wilo-Foundation, a modern learning space has been created that opens up new opportunities for hands-on educational programs focused on water and ecosystems. Here, students can explore scientific questions independently and, through practical work, develop a deeper understanding of ecological relationships.

These programs foster a deeper understanding of how individual actions influence ecological systems and highlight the importance of protecting water resources. Photo: Riveredge Nature Center

Strong demand and diverse programs

Between February and May of this year, 649 students participated in the Wet Lab programs. As part of these activities, they examine aquatic organisms, analyze different pond habitats, and collect their own data on the species present. These hands-on approaches promote a deeper understanding of the relationships between aquatic ecosystems, environmental factors, and the broader watershed.

Lasting learning experiences through direct contact with nature

For many participants, a visit to the Wet Lab represents their first in-depth encounter with natural water environments. The combination of fieldwork and subsequent analysis in the laboratory creates lasting learning experiences and helps spark long-term interest in scientific topics.