Home > News Bytes > DRBC's Interactive Clean Water Lesson Popular at HydoMania
DRBC's Interactive Clean Water Lesson Popular at HydoMania

Earlier this month, DRBC participated in the 18th annual HydroMania, a fun-filled water festival attended by over 1,000 3rd and 4th grade elementary school students, teachers, and chaperones at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pa.

Over the years, DRBC has been a regular HydroMania exhibitor and was proud to again participate this year. When the students arrived at the college, they descended upon a large tent that was set up with a variety of interactive exhibits and learning stations for them to explore, each which answered a different water-themed question. 

DRBC staff helped the students answer the questions, “Do we live in a watershed?” and "How can we help keep our watershed clean?" using a map of the Delaware River Basin and the commission’s Enviroscape watershed model. This model teaches the students about different sources of non-point source pollution found in runoff especially after heavy rains and what we can do to help keep our waterways clean. The model is always a hit with kids, especially younger children, as it demonstrates in a visually engaging way the connection between land and water.

HydroMania is organized by the Lehigh Valley Water Suppliers, Inc. This educational event aims to generate curiosity, excitement, and understanding about current water issues, resulting in a lifetime of watershed-friendly water-use habits.
The DRBC interactive/educational station is all set up and ready for the students to arrive. Photo by DRBC.DRBC's Denise McHugh (pointing to the map) uses the map of the Delaware River Basin to explain the concept of a watershed and that we all live in one. Photo by DRBC.DRBC's Kate Schmidt uses the Enviroscape model to talk to the students about non-point source pollution. This type of pollution is difficult to trace back to a singular source and therefore is difficult to regulate. People of all ages can do their part to reduce this type of pollution, for example by not littering or throwing anything down storm drains, picking up pet waste, and using more care when applying pesticides or fertilizers to their lawns. Photo by DRBC.At the conclusion of the lesson, DRBC's Donna Woolf asks the kids how they can help keep their local waterways clean. Look at all those hands! Photo by DRBC.
DRBC's Denise McHugh begins the Enviroscape portion of our clean water lesson by reinforcing that we all live in a watershed, and the model is an example of a local community. The model is then used to show how different land activities can affect our rivers, creeks, and streams. Photo by DRBC. DRBC's Donna Woolf talks to a large student group about how different forms of non-point source pollution (for example, fertilizers, animal waste, oil, and sediment) can get into our waterways when it rains. Photo by DRBC.Look who stopped by to hear DRBC's Kate Schmidt's clean water lesson? It's Dewey, the Lehigh Valley Water Suppliers' mascot. Photo by DRBC.At the conclusion of the lesson, DRBC's Denise McHugh asks the kids how they can help keep their local waterways clean. Photo by DRBC.DRBC's Donna Woolf leans in to answer a student's question about pollution from farm animals. Farms are important parts of our watershed communities, but even they too have best practices to follow to ensure farm waste stays out of our waterways. Photo by DRBC.(From L to R): DRBC's Donna Woolf, Kate Schmidt, and Denise McHugh pose with Dewey, the Lehigh Valley Water Suppliers' mascot, after a great day! Photo by DRBC.