The Great Lakes’ Guardian Angel

Every summer, one of the Great Lakes receives a visit from a white ship bearing the mark of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Research Vessel (R/V) Lake Guardian is tasked with monitoring the conditions in the Great Lakes, from water temperatures to aquatic organisms.

Once a year, the Guardian, as it’s often called, also takes on a group of about 16 educators from around the Great Lakes region to allow them to learn about current Great Lakes research and bring that knowledge back to the students in their classroom. During the ship’s 2014 cruise on Lake Erie, teachers from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota were part of the week-long experience, guided by researchers and Sea Grant educators from across the Great Lakes.