/ / / SMLA Lake Days Provide Hands-On Learning for Local Students

SMLA Lake Days Provide Hands-On Learning for Local Students

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SMLA Press Release

Smith Mountain Lake State Park recently became a classroom for Bedford County Public Schools 9th graders. Students from Jefferson Forest, Liberty and Staunton River high schools each spent a day doing hands-on learning about the lake, water quality and other environmental science topics.

Lake Days, held March 29-April 1, is a collaboration between Bedford County Public Schools and Smith Mountain Lake Association (SMLA). This year, the Bedford Regional Water Authority (Bedford Water) joined the program and hosted one of the learning sites. State Park rangers hosted the program in the visitors center and outdoors in the park.

Allison Kappler, Supervisor of Science and Computer Science at Bedford County Schools, helped start the program with SMLA in 2025 and was pleased to continue the program this year. “I am thankful to be able to partner with SMLA and Bedford Water in order to provide this hands-on experience for our 9th grade Environmental Science students. It is important for our students to engage in meaningful watershed educational experiences to make their classroom learning real and relevant,” Kappler said.

During their day at the park, students participated in experience stations that illustrated some of the concepts they learn in the classroom:

  • Water Quality Monitoring
  • Hydropower
  • Stream ecology
  • Water supply and treatment

Students were excited as they engaged with SMLA volunteers through each station and learned about the lake and environmental literacy.

About SMLA

The Smith Mountain Lake Association (SMLA) mission is to keep Smith Mountain Lake clean and safe. Established in 1969, SMLA is the longest serving advocate for the SML community. Activities help to retain the pristine beauty of Smith Mountain Lake and the vibrant local economy. SMLA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), volunteer-led organization that relies on memberships, donations and grants to support programs that protect SML.

SMLA Lake Days volunteers.
SMLA Lake Days volunteers.
SMLA Water Quality Monitoring program chair Tom Hardy, left, guides Liberty High School students through the process of taking water quality tests and recording their findings.
SMLA Water Quality Monitoring program chair Tom Hardy, left, guides Liberty High School students through the process of taking water quality tests and recording their findings.
SMLA education committee member Mike Rodgers explains the lake watershed to students from Staunton River High School.
SMLA education committee member Mike Rodgers explains the lake watershed to students from Staunton River High School.
SMLA Lake Quality Council Chair Keri Green shows Jefferson Forest High School students how to assemble and use Foldscope paper microscopes.
SMLA Lake Quality Council Chair Keri Green shows Jefferson Forest High School students how to assemble and use Foldscope paper microscopes.
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Smith Mountain Lake Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3). We are a volunteer-led organization that relies on memberships, donations and grants to support programs to keep SML clean and safe.

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