The fourth grade classes of St.Michael's Elementary visit the campus of Environmental Concern in the fall of every year to form the St. Michael's Aquatic Research Team or S.M.A.R.T. program. the S.M.A.R.T program has expanded to include students from Chapel District Elementary.

These young scientists learn the importance of water quality and test the health of San Domingo Creek as well as a local freshwater marsh. Thanks to a generous grant from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the students are able to slide on waders and literally immerse themselves in the project. Between the mud, the marsh, and the microscopes, the students gather macroinvertabrates as evidence of water quality, test for dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature. As the S.M.A.R.T. program grows, St. Michael's students can use this webpage as a reference to compare results from class to class, and from year to year.