“I see some pollution down in a hole.”

Seven Generations Charter School students Beatrice and Willow are standing on the shore of a pond in Furnace Dam Park, Emmaus, scanning the ground for things that do not belong in the idyllic setting on a cold and cloudy morning in mid-November, weather that feels more like January.

So far this brisk morning they and fellow first graders Iris, Fletcher and Tristan worked together and, with the help of their teacher Alexa Brennan, collected paper litter, an abandoned dog toy, a fluorescent green pickleball and a fishing bobber.

“Definitely a good find,” Fletcher said.

The quintet of students and their fellow first graders, 77 in all, hiked from the school campus, East Minor Street, Emmaus, once home to magazine and book publisher Rodale, to Furnace Dam Park, South 10th Street in the borough, a hike of about one and one-half miles, to tackle a specific problem – litter in and around the park pond.

In an email to The Press, Brennan explained the impetus for the project.

As part of their studies on pond ecosystems, the first grade classes visit the Furnace Dam Park pond.

“During our recent hike, we noticed litter in and around the pond,” Brennan wrote.

The discovery sparked discussions about the impact of litter on the environment and pond habitat.

The litter, Fletcher explained Nov. 12, could disrupt the food chain for those animals making their homes in and around the pond.

Jen Hersh, director of curriculum K-4 and on site for the hike Nov. 12, described the park and the outdoors in general as the classroom for the students at the charter school.

As part of their study of pond ecosystems, students observe a pond closer to their campus. Their schoolwork includes tracking weather and water conditions, collecting data on pond life, identifying animals and native plants living in and around the pond and more.

“Our goal is to provide stewards and nurture caring for the community,” Hersh said.

At the park, students organized into smaller groups to learn about how oil protects ducks’ feathers through an experiment involving petroleum jelly and walk the trail around the pond to look for litter as well as observe life at the pond in late fall. A sunken log was of particular interest for some. Data also was collected with slender nets used to scoop water from the pond to get a closer look at what was happening below the surface.

The students also took time to enjoy the park playground, despite the cold and windy conditions.

Awareness about the litter and, ultimately, spreading the word about the importance of a healthy environment at the park pond for those who make it their home drives the project, which is part of the service learning initiative for the students, Brennan emailed.

The students wanted to take action.

“We hope to continue educating our community about the importance of protecting these habitats,” Brennan emailed. “It’s important for our students to see that their actions matter and that they truly can make a difference!”