Snorkeling The Shallows

Doug Harmon (R) demonstrates how to use the equipment with NC Parks Director Nick Smith

Summer Magic teens take to the water

Story and photos by Lola Harmon Ramsey
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The Diamond Lake County park was a perfect location to host the Newaygo County PCA “Summer Magic” teen program on Monday. With sparkling blue water and more than twenty excited teenagers arriving from their various home bases, the group was met with volunteers from a number of local conservation organizations who were ready to share their expertise on fishing, water quality testing, amphibious life, and snorkeling. 

Doug Harmon, a local SCUBA dive master instructed the teens on how to snorkel and find wildlife. The attendees were each fitted with a mask and snorkel and sent on their way to explore the shallows of Diamond Lake. 

Students could then join representatives from the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly who were on hand to sample the water, take sand samples and to collect plant life or bugs to explore the health of Diamond Lake.  The Newaygo County Conservation District was also on hand to assist the youths with fishing and the collection of water foliage samples. 

When the afternoon was complete, the teens were able to take their mask and snorkel home which was a gift from the Muskegon Area Watershed Assembly and a grant from the Fremont Area Community Foundation. Every teen also received their own fishing pole to take with them as a gift from the U.S. Forest Service.