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Why educate about stormwater, nonpoint
source pollution and watersheds?
Whether they know it or not, every resident
of New Jersey may contribute to polluted stormwater
runoff through his or her daily activities such
as fertilizing the lawn, throwing litter down storm
drains or not cleaning after pets. As a result,
polluted stormwater runoff from the surrounding
watershed is one of the greatest threats to many
of our ponds, creeks, lakes, wells, streams, rivers,
bays, ground water, and the ocean. Simple changes
in daily lifestyle can make a tremendous difference
in the quality of New Jersey's water resources.
How can we help you conduct outreach
and education about water?
The DWM has many tools to assist you
in your stormwater, nonpoint source pollution or
watershed education effort. These include newsletters
and brochures for the community at large as well
teacher workshops, free classroom presentations
through the NJ Watershed Ambassadors Program and
the Urban Watershed Education Program and publications for students and teachers. In
addition, the DWM works in partnership with many
outside organizations such as the Watershed Partnership
for New Jersey (WPNJ), the Watershed Institute,
and the watershed associations, government agencies,
environmental groups involved in watershed activities
across the state.
RESOURCES AVAILABLE
THROUGH THE NJDEP DIVISION OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
THE NEW JERSEY WATERSHED AMBASSADORS
PROGRAM
The New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors program is
a community-oriented AmeriCorps environmental program
designed to raise awareness about water issues in
New Jersey. Through this program, AmeriCorps members
are placed across the state to serve their local
communities. Watershed Ambassadors monitor the rivers
of New Jersey through Visual Assessment and Biological
Assessment volunteer monitoring protocols. The members
train community volunteers on how to use these two
volunteer monitoring techniques. Watershed Ambassadors
also make presentations to community organizations
and schools. These interactive presentations provide
information about water and watershed issues in
New Jersey. The presentations can be tailored to
the interests of the audience. Members educate students
and citizens about water issues and empower them
to get involved in their watershed.
Contact: Akili Lynn
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PROJECT WET (WATER EDUCATION
FOR TEACHERS)
Project WET is a nationally renowned program that
offers teachers a better understanding about the
world's water resources through hands-on, multi-disciplinary
lessons. Project WET is the only program that teaches
about the importance and value of water in our every
day life with formal and non-formal educators while
offering specialized programs about New Jersey's
water resources and watersheds. NJ Project WET is
a well-rounded program that focuses on water supply,
water quality, water conservation, watershed management,
land use planning and wetlands. Project WET provides
educators with accurate insight into critical water
issues while offering a large selection of creative
teaching strategies.
In addition to workshops, NJ Project WET reaches
more students, parents, volunteers, educators and administrators
through its Water Festival Grant Program. A Water
Festival is a one-day celebration of water with
a focus on a school's watershed. Students participate
in a series of learning stations that examine water
use over time, water's role in shaping our country,
what a watershed is, how water is cleaned and used
again, how a molecule travels through the water
cycle and much more. The festivals involve the community
and attract positive media attention that reaches
thousands of people across the state.
NJ Project WET offers a unique learning opportunity
for high school students and teachers through its
Watershed Stewards Program. This program focuses
on a weekend leadership workshop for a high school
team of four or five students. They are provided
instruction and training in watershed topics and
team-building experiences that prepare them to focus
on a watershed service project that will address
an environmental concern. Each Watershed Steward
Team must work with three community organizations
and solicit another 20 volunteers to assist with
the project. Participants receive a small grant
to conduct an Watershed Stewardship Project.
Contact: Ray Nichols
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URBAN WATERSHED EDUCATION
PROGRAM
The goal of the Urban Watershed Education Program is to educate
young students living in the Newark Bay Complex
about the hazards of eating contaminated fish and
help them to discover the beauty of the great natural
resource. Students who participate in the program
sample recreational opportunities that the bay has
to offer while learning how to be responsible citizens
within the estuary. The students experience 4 days
of intense yet enjoyable instruction related to
the Newark Bay Complex. Throughout the four days
students are given hands on experiences, which will
endure with them over a lifetime. The program also
includes a storm drain marking program than can
help municipalities fulfill their stormwater permitting
requirements. The program is currently offered in
Newark, Jersey City, Bayonne and Elizabeth.
Contact: Lynette Lurig
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CLEAN WATER RAINGERS PROGRAM
This program offers educators a number of teaching
materials for their students as well as background
information on watersheds and nonpoint source pollution.
Educators who participate in the Clean Water Raingers
program are provided with free booklets and associated
materials for their elementary school age students.
The Clean Water Raingers Coloring Book, How
to be a Clean Water Rainger Booklet and the
Clean Water Raingers stickers are also popular
give-aways at family oriented events and festivals.
These publications are also available online on
the Division's publications web page
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/watershedmgt/publications.htm#education
Contact: Kyra Hoffmann
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PUBLICATIONS
The DWM produces a number of publications that
are available for free distribution by municipalities,
watershed associations, environmental groups or
other organizations. These include What's A Watershed?
Brochure, Clean Water Raingers Materials, the Watershed Management Area Map
and Watershed Focus Newsletter.
The
Division also publishes a newsletter entitled Watershed
Focus. The free newsletter includes articles of
interest to municipal officials, environmental groups,
concerned citizens and water professionals on watershed
management, stormwater, nonpoint source pollution
and water education. To subscribe, please email
a request to kyra.hoffmann@dep.state.nj.us
Contact: Kyra Hoffmann
or Erin Brodel
WATERSHED EDUCATORS CONFERENCE
Each year, the Watershed Partnership for New Jersey and the NJDEP sponsor a two-day interactive conference for New Jersey educators. Sessions explore New Jersey's dynamic watersheds and connect educators with regional resources, curriculum materials and more. Field trips on the second day allow educators to discover the beauty and complexities of their watershed and more ways to teach our future leaders about earth's most precious resource - water. Professional development credits are available.
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