Funded by: LWVPA-CEF
WREN Project, Drinking Water Source Water Protection Project
2002-2003
Project Title: Mars Area
School District Water Resource Education Program
Area(s) to be protected: the Breakneck Creek/Connoquenessing Creek
Partner(s): PA Rural Water Association, Connoquenessing Watershed
Alliance
Focus: purchase equipment for their Stream Testing-Groundwater Protection
program
Counties served: Butler County Grant: $3,910
Contact: William Wesley, 724-625-1581, email: billw63@hotmail.com
Coalition
Partners: Mars Area School District, Pa Dept of Environmental
Protection, PA Rural Water Association
Grant: $2,000
Focus: To involve high school students in developing and implementing
a groundwater festival for elementary school students as part of an
ongoing source-water protection curriculum for schools. The group
intends to have the festival become an annual event.
Accomplishments: Recruited high school students to run the
program, selected third grade as target group, and expanded project
to include holding the festival at two sites (one date per site).
Held planning day for high school science teachers involved with project.
To encourage involvement of students, parents, and teachers prior
to the festivals the project sponsored:
- An in-service to orient third grade teachers and get their input
into program
- A "home hazardous waste inventory day" to identify safer alternatives
and proper disposal of wastes being stored in the home
- A contest to select a theme and T-shirt logo for the festivals
- An invitation to all parents of third graders to send a sample
of their drinking water with their child for evaluation during the
festivals.
Two groundwater festivals were held in May 1998. Total attendance
at the two festivals included 192 third graders, 20 parent volunteers,
and eight third-grade teachers. Participants made new contacts with
local businesses and organizations. Publicity about the project appeared
in the local media, a local legislator's newsletter, and the schools
district's newsletter
Successes, Obstacles, and Unanticipated Outcomes: Attending
the Groundwater Guardian Conference in November 1997 exposed two project
representatives to many new ideas and contacts that helped the project.
