Continue to include environment in our plans

Valparaiso University sophomore Katelyn Niemeyer watches a water absorption test along with students from Thomas Jefferson Elementary School at the Thorgren dentention basin inValparaiso last April. Students were testing water and soil quality at the site.

Valpo 5th-graders, VU work together to test conditions at a basin

Valparaiso University sophomore Katelyn Niemeyer watches a water absorption test along with students from Valparaiso's Thomas Jefferson Elementary School on Thursday at the Thorgren Dentention Basin. Students were testing water and soil quality at the site.

Valpo 5th-graders, VU work together to test conditions at a basin

Valparaiso University sophomore Kiefer Heiman shows Thomas Jefferson Elementary School fifth-graders how to test for water absorption in the soil Thursday at the Thorgren Dentention Basin in Valparaiso.

Valpo 5th-graders, VU work together to test conditions at a basin

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School Principal Bonnie Stephens points out bugs Thursday at the Thorgren Dentention Basin with fifth-graders Cameron Nelson, left, and Kyle Handing.

Valpo 5th-graders, VU work together to test conditions at a basin

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School fifth-grader Cameron Kjelstrom holds a dragonfly larvae Thursday from the Thorgren Dentention Basin in Valparaiso. The young students helped Valparaiso University students and faculty to test soil and water conditions at the basin, which included looking at…

Valpo 5th-graders, VU work together to test conditions at a basin

Tom Goyne, left, Valparaiso University associate professor of chemistry, talks with students from Valparaiso's Thomas Jefferson Elementary School on Thursday before testing the Thorgren Dentention Basin for water and soil quality.

Valpo 5th-graders, VU work together to test conditions at a basin

Thomas Goyne, left, Valparaiso University associate professor of Chemistry, explains to Thomas Jefferson Elementary School students how to use a tube to test soil water absorption Thursday at the Thorgren Detention Basin in Valparaiso. Valparaiso University students — with help from the fift…

Valpo 5th-graders, VU work together to test conditions at a basin

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School fifth-graders Paulina Godoy, left, and Joana Tomas-Alfaro, right center, identify bugs Thursday from the Thorgren Dentention Basin in Valparaiso along with teacher Jeffrey Hellmers, left center, and Mia Goulding from Save the Dunes.