An example of a metro water education project is an Urban Stewards project that focused on stormwater management. A 6th grade class from Farnsworth Elementary in St. Paul identified the variety of environmental issues facing their community; then they further investigated the issues surrounding urban stormwater pollution. Finally they came up with an action project idea and wrote a grant application to Eco Education for funds. Led by teacher Mara Coyle and assisted by Eco Education stuff, this class:
- Informed approximately 300 children and adults at the annual WaterFest celebration about the importance of lifestyle choices in preventing nonpoint-source water pollution.
- Designed and produced a performance, informational bags, comic books, watershed models, and door hangers.
- Restored a section of Lake Phalen’s shoreline with a planting project.
- Stenciled 20 storm drains in the school’s neighborhood with Farnsworth’s kindergarteners while educating the younger children about the project’s importance.
Your student project can be shared on this web site by contacting
Ron Struss