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The objective of StreamTeams is to take students outdoors to discover the educational value of the natural environment. By involving your students in a StreamTeam, you will introduce them to the water body near the school while helping to foster a sense of responsibility and stewardship for the environment around them. Background Boulder Creek is the primary creek in the watershed, but it is not the only creek. There are hundreds of tributaries (creeks that feed into Boulder Creek), ponds, lakes and wetlands to be explored and protected. Creeks are an important backbone to a healthy environment. Healthy creeks mean healthy animals and plants, as well as happy and healthy humans. Just as we care for ourselves, we must also care for the waterways that we live near. Discuss the responsibilities of a StreamTeam with your class to determine if this is an on-going activity they would like to be involved in. 1. Why is it important for people to keep streams clean, to preserve and enhance them? (animals, fish and plants need clean water for living, we need clean water for drinking, recreation, agriculture, etc.) 2. List several problems that might exist in and around waterways near your school. (garbage, oil slicks, eroded stream banks, lots of weeds, etc). 3. What are actions we can take to help reduce these problems? (pick up trash, stencil storm drains, pull weeds.) If your class chooses to form a StreamTeam, they will adopt a section of stream or other body of water near the school to keep clean, monitor and protect. Adopting a waterway will give your students a sense of satisfaction and pride for their hard work; it will be a fun and educational outdoor experience; and it will help them understand their connection to the natural environment. The responsibilities of a school StreamTeam include: 1. Identifying the waterway near your school. 2. Signing an agreement with the city about the work you will do on the adopted waterway. 3. Creating a watershed map. 4. Planning a creek walk to take inventory of your adopted waterway Ñ find out where pollution problems are, soil erosion, urban development impacts. 5. Setting Priorities:
6. Ongoing activities: visually monitor stream weekly and look for changes in water or vegetative health; report spills; encourage students to keep school yard, sidewalks and the street in front of the school free of oil spots, loose trash, pet waste, etc. 7. After the first semester, your students will be acknowledged for their work with a sign posted at the adopted waterway. To help your students become familiar with their adopted waterway, several activities have been selected to enhance your StreamTeam experiences. Mapping Your Watershed (Activity
2.2) People to Contact Water Conservation Specialist
413-7407 Science Standards #5 Students know ways that science, technology, and human activity have an impact on the world and its resources. Return
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