Bluffton

Description: Earth Force partners with General Motors and Hoosier Riverwatch to engage Bluffton youth in GREEN (Global Rivers Environmental Education Network), in which young people develop into active citizens who improve conditions in their watersheds now and in the future.

Why We Are Here: Earth Force’s long standing partnership with General Motors prompted the GREEN program’s establishment in Bluffton, a small community established along the banks of the Wabash River 25 miles southwest of Ft. Wayne.

Bluffton is one of only three towns in Indiana to both publicly acknowledge its history of exclusion and to promote itself as an inclusive town. It also became one of the first cities to join the National League of Cities’ Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities

Demographics: Below Poverty Level 6.40%

Free and Reduced Lunch 36%

TOTAL POPULATION 9,897

White 9,664 (97.65%)

Black or African American 34 (0.34%)

Hispanic or Latino 233 (2.35%)

American Indian and Alaska Native alone 22 (0.22%)

Asian alone 24 (0.24%)

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone 7 (0.07%)

Some other race alone 0 (0.00%)

Two or more races 68 (0.69%)

What We Are Doing: Earth Force, in partnership with GM and Hoosier Riverwatch, works with teacher Bev Blash and her 8th grade science classes from Bluffton-Harrison Middle School to conduct annual chemical, biological and habitat analyses of the Wabash River as part of their watershed inventory. Raw data is submitted to the Hoosier Riverwatch database and students work to improve conditions in and around the River based on their observations.

Earth Force History in this Community: In 2003, GM Ft. Wayne Assembly partnered with Earth Force and Hoosier Riverwatch to bring GREEN to Bluffton-Harrison Middle School students.

Since the program’s inception, 720 students from Bev Balash’s science and social studies classes have participated in GREEN. General Motors employees assist students in their water monitoring field studies and secure funding for the school to purchase equipment and supplies for action projects.

Bluffton-Harrison Middle School student action projects resulting from their watershed investigations have included organizing community litter pickups and an Earth Day poster "education" campaign focused on educating Bluffton residents about the link between city streets and parking lots and their local river. The year after the poster campaign, students collected much less trash during their monitoring sessions than in previous years.

Number of Youth: 111

Number of Educators: 1

Participating Partners: General Motors

Hoosier Riverwatch

Participating School Districts: Bluffton-Harrison Middle School

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