Water Conservation/Water Pollution Prevention
Riderwood's "Save Water Action Team" (SWAT) is a group of 20 students in all grade levels formed in the 2013-14 school year to lead the school in water conservation and water pollution prevention efforts. Wearing their signature green visors and coordinating with the Green Team, SWAT has brainstormed ideas and initiated several projects. Below is a summary list followed by additional details:
Riderwood's "Save Water Action Team" (SWAT) is a group of 20 students in all grade levels formed in the 2013-14 school year to lead the school in water conservation and water pollution prevention efforts. Wearing their signature green visors and coordinating with the Green Team, SWAT has brainstormed ideas and initiated several projects. Below is a summary list followed by additional details:
- Rain Barrel
- "Toilet Talk" Signs in Bathrooms
- Litter Pick-Up to Prevent Water Pollution
- Drip hose in "Kinder Garden"
Rain Barrel
Grade: All
Number of Students: 20 to install, entire school will benefit
Date: Spring 2014
SWAT plans to install a rain barrel on the school grounds to collect water for the school gardens and prevent storm-water runoff which may carry pollutants to nearby streams. The Green Team's rain barrel proposal has been approved by the principal and assistant superintendent and we are now awaiting the final sign-off from the County Office of Physical Facilities. We anticipate installing the rain barrel in April or May 2014.
In the meantime, SWAT kids have painted the rain barrel with colorful messages and pictures about protecting our water supply. Once installed, the rain barrel will nicely supplement the 5th grade unit on "Greening the Schoolyard" (see Environmental Issue Instruction) and lead to water conservation/pollution prevention lessons with other grades and Girl Scout troops.
Thank you to the Spencer Family for purchasing the rain barrel at the Baltimore County Rain Barrel and Compost Bin Sale, specifically to donate to the school!
Click here to view the rain barrel proposal:
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/gs_install_rain_barrel.doc
Grade: All
Number of Students: 20 to install, entire school will benefit
Date: Spring 2014
SWAT plans to install a rain barrel on the school grounds to collect water for the school gardens and prevent storm-water runoff which may carry pollutants to nearby streams. The Green Team's rain barrel proposal has been approved by the principal and assistant superintendent and we are now awaiting the final sign-off from the County Office of Physical Facilities. We anticipate installing the rain barrel in April or May 2014.
In the meantime, SWAT kids have painted the rain barrel with colorful messages and pictures about protecting our water supply. Once installed, the rain barrel will nicely supplement the 5th grade unit on "Greening the Schoolyard" (see Environmental Issue Instruction) and lead to water conservation/pollution prevention lessons with other grades and Girl Scout troops.
Thank you to the Spencer Family for purchasing the rain barrel at the Baltimore County Rain Barrel and Compost Bin Sale, specifically to donate to the school!
Click here to view the rain barrel proposal:
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/gs_install_rain_barrel.doc
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"Toilet Talk" Signs in Bathrooms
Grades: All
Number of Students: 20 students designed and posted signs, entire school benefits
Date: March 2014
During a SWAT brainstorming session, many members suggested creating signs to educate the rest of the school about water conservation and water pollution prevention. They decided to hang signs in places where they have a captive audience: inside the doors of bathroom stalls! They will hang the signs during Earth Week after explaining the "Toilet Talk" project on the morning announcements. See below for samples of their handiwork:
Grades: All
Number of Students: 20 students designed and posted signs, entire school benefits
Date: March 2014
During a SWAT brainstorming session, many members suggested creating signs to educate the rest of the school about water conservation and water pollution prevention. They decided to hang signs in places where they have a captive audience: inside the doors of bathroom stalls! They will hang the signs during Earth Week after explaining the "Toilet Talk" project on the morning announcements. See below for samples of their handiwork:
Litter Pick-Up to Prevent Water Pollution
Grades: All
Number of Students: 20
Date: March 20, 2014
Another result of SWAT's brainstorming sessions was to find ways to help prevent the stream across the street from the school from getting more polluted. The SWAT kids suggested keeping Riderwood as litter-free as possible, since litter can get into the storm drains and then the stream, possibly causing harm to fish, crayfish, and other creatures living there. They devoted part of their March 2014 SWAT meeting to picking up litter on the schoolyard. The SWAT kids made sure any recyclables they found were put into the recycling dumpster.
Grades: All
Number of Students: 20
Date: March 20, 2014
Another result of SWAT's brainstorming sessions was to find ways to help prevent the stream across the street from the school from getting more polluted. The SWAT kids suggested keeping Riderwood as litter-free as possible, since litter can get into the storm drains and then the stream, possibly causing harm to fish, crayfish, and other creatures living there. They devoted part of their March 2014 SWAT meeting to picking up litter on the schoolyard. The SWAT kids made sure any recyclables they found were put into the recycling dumpster.
Drip Hose in "Kinder Garden"
Grade: All students who participate in Garden Workdays and/or volunteer for summer watering schedule
Number of Students: All students who participate in Garden Workdays and/or volunteer for summer watering schedule
Date: Installed Spring 2013
An important lesson about water conservation happens every time we're in the "Kinder Garden." When the Green Team restored the schoolyard habitat and installed the "Kinder Garden" Native Plant Nature Trail in Spring 2013, watering those areas was a huge job. The "Kinder Garden" was at least close to a spigot, but the schoolyard was a hike, considering that the volunteer was carrying two full watering cans. It was difficult to give the newly-planted native plants the long, deep watering that their root systems needed. Dumping buckets or cans of water is time-consuming can lead to run-off, and using a spray hose can waste water to evaporation or misdirection to sidewalk areas.
Mary Lord, a resourceful parent volunteer, saved the day for the "Kinder Garden" plants (and the volunteers' backs!) by donating a drip hose that now winds under the mulch throughout the "Kinder Garden." When volunteers arrive to water, they simply turn on the drip house and the "Kinder Garden" watering takes care of itself, freeing them to devote more time to watering the schoolyard habitat. Most importantly, the native plants in the "Kinder Garden" are getting the thorough watering they need and there's no runoff.
Student volunteers who participate in garden workdays and summer watering operate the soaker hose and see first-hand how effective it is in helping the plants to thrive!
Grade: All students who participate in Garden Workdays and/or volunteer for summer watering schedule
Number of Students: All students who participate in Garden Workdays and/or volunteer for summer watering schedule
Date: Installed Spring 2013
An important lesson about water conservation happens every time we're in the "Kinder Garden." When the Green Team restored the schoolyard habitat and installed the "Kinder Garden" Native Plant Nature Trail in Spring 2013, watering those areas was a huge job. The "Kinder Garden" was at least close to a spigot, but the schoolyard was a hike, considering that the volunteer was carrying two full watering cans. It was difficult to give the newly-planted native plants the long, deep watering that their root systems needed. Dumping buckets or cans of water is time-consuming can lead to run-off, and using a spray hose can waste water to evaporation or misdirection to sidewalk areas.
Mary Lord, a resourceful parent volunteer, saved the day for the "Kinder Garden" plants (and the volunteers' backs!) by donating a drip hose that now winds under the mulch throughout the "Kinder Garden." When volunteers arrive to water, they simply turn on the drip house and the "Kinder Garden" watering takes care of itself, freeing them to devote more time to watering the schoolyard habitat. Most importantly, the native plants in the "Kinder Garden" are getting the thorough watering they need and there's no runoff.
Student volunteers who participate in garden workdays and summer watering operate the soaker hose and see first-hand how effective it is in helping the plants to thrive!