In the classroom, students learn how to check the physical and chemical characteristics (temperature, pH, clarity, and dissolved oxygen) of water samples. Phosphates and nitrates are discussed, but not measured. Students gain an understanding of the importance of water quality and human impact, including personal behaviors, on our water resources. Once on the lake, students are taken via pontoon boats to a deep water site where they measure temperature and dissolved oxygen at five foot increments, clarity using a Secchi disk, and pH. Students are then asked to make a qualitative assessment of the lake.