Linn-Mar science project culminates in naming creek

MARION — A science project at Linn-Mar High School led to the naming of a creek — approved by the U.S. Board on Geographical Names last month — in the hopes of bringing awareness to the waterway and encouraging community stewardship.

Almost 60 students during the 2023-24 school year worked to research the previously unnamed creek, identify potential names and engage the community in the process through a Venture Academics Earth Science class.

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved the student-led proposal Oct. 10 to name the waterway Coopers Creek after a family that were early residents around the creek. The creek flows from south of Echo Hill Road, west of Alburnett Road, and merges with Dry Creek just south of Boyson Road.

“Not many kids get to say they’re a part of something this big,” said Sophia Hanlin, 15, a sophomore at Linn-Mar who was in the Earth Science class last spring.

Venture Academics is the school’s project-based learning program that gives students the ability to learn and use real-world skills such as leadership, accountability and teamwork on projects they are passionate about, while earning high school credit.

The students reached out to about 150 residents who live along the creek, explored geological elements of it and observed animal and insect patterns and tested chloride levels in the water as a part of the project.

The name commemorates the Cooper family, which came to Linn County in 1845. The students’ research showed the Coopers and their descendants lived in and around Marion for generations.

One of the final steps of the project was presenting the proposed name to the Marion and Cedar Rapids city councils and Linn County Conservation Board for approval.

Lauren Hilzendager, who was a part of the presentation to the Marion City Council, said the class helped her gain confidence when speaking in public.

“I’m more of an outspoken person now. Venture really helped me develop those skills,” she said.

The proposed name then was submitted to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to be approved.

Using funding from a grant from the McClure Foundation — a nonprofit that seeks to further opportunities in science, technology, engineering, art and math — the city of Marion will erect signs along Coopers Creek next year.

“My dad and I went on a bike ride past the creek, and he didn’t believe me when I pointed to it and told him I helped name it in my freshman science class,” said Noah Bormann, now a sophomore at Linn-Mar High. “I can’t wait to see the signs posted, so people can recognize this creek and this project.”

Charlotte McDermott, who teaches Venture Earth Science, said beyond learning science standards, students also gain skills in communication, collaboration, critical thinking, productivity, accountability and creativity in her classroom.

Kathleen Kelley, a rhetoric teacher at Venture, worked closely with students on the Coopers Creek project as they did community outreach and prepared professional presentations.

“This is one of those projects the students have that leaves a legacy,” Kelley said. “They’ll be able to point to it and say, ‘I was a part of that.’ Venture truly is experiential and long-lasting.”

About 150 residents received letters from the students during the project mailed to their home addresses asking for their input on naming the creek. Out of 53 people who responded to a survey, almost 78 percent were in favor of naming the creek. Three names were suggested by the students, and residents chose Coopers Creek by about 60 percent.

The project was pitched to Venture Academics by Thomas Doyle, who had worked for the city of Marion as an environmental specialist. He now works at the Iowa Geological Survey in Iowa City.

“I’ve always been interested in water quality, ecosystem health and wildlife habitat. One thing I’ve noticed is there are natural areas all around us that often get overlooked. I’d probably driven over this creek 1,000 times in my life and had never noticed it,” Doyle said.

Naming the creek is a good way to increase it’s “visibility” and encourage people to think about its impact on the environment. “It’s not just a ditch,” Doyle said.

“I’m a big believer that if we want better environmental outcomes in our state, we need people to be interested in these things before anything’s going to get better,” he said.

Doyle said he was inspired to take the project to Venture students after a resident got a creek named Willowood a few years ago.

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