ENVIROSCAPE®
NEWS
This past August, just as folks across the country were turning their thoughts to school programs and schedules, those tuned to National Public Radio (NPR) had an opportunity, for the second year in a row, to hear about the effectiveness of the EnviroScape program for watershed education. Peter Thompson, host of NPR's "Living on Earth" did a series on safe drinking water and positive community- based efforts in water management. One focus was on education and, not surprisingly, featured the EnviroScape Nonpoint Source model being used for a classroom session at the Austinville Elementary School in Decatur, Alabama. Brad Bole from Flint Creek Watershed Project remembers doing the session from among the 20 to 30 schools he visits each year. Brad tells us. "There are a lot of agricultural uses in this watershed. Some people don' think about when it rains, where it all goes. EnviroScape gives a visual understanding that everything drains to the streams."
As we came
to understand, this was not the first time this NPR series has aired. In
fact, the first time was August of 1998. If it's repeat radio -- it must
be good!
Receive
5% off the purchase price of any EnviroScape item(s) OR 12% off the price
of any 2 or more Deluxe units (good through Jan. 31, 2000). [Cannot be
combined with other promotions.]
The
Environmental Clean Air and Clean Water Grant offered by your local Walmart/Sams
Club has been effectively used for funding EnviroScape programs in communities
where the stores reside. The application process is administered through
your local store manager and will be funded for year 2000 beginning February
1st. Get your applications in early as money ran out last year by August!
For more information, click
here
"The single, most important thing about writing a grant is to answer their request for information directly and completely. Unless they ask, they do not want to know the history of your community. Answer their questions." "Every major corporation -- especially ones that are related to kids has a section on grant funding. Most Departments of Ed for states have state information, but only when it is active -- so the trick is to know when to look." Dr. Elizabeth Lawson, Educational Consultant
The last issue of "EnviroScape NEWS" contained a survey to enable us to gather input on our quality of service, products and future initiatives. We thank all of you who took the time to respond through the mail, fax or our web site. We want to share what we learned and identify steps that are being taken as a result of that feedback.
NOTE: EnviroScape Coastal should be out in 2000 and work is continuing on an Urban scenario. Instructional videos. Other survey areas showed many had not used the instructional videos and those who had, found them useful for basic set-up/clean-up needs and not compre- hensive training. We received some ideas and useful critique on information to be addressed in future versions of the instructional videos. Regarding preferences in the use of Add-on scenarios or Deluxe units, over 90% indicated a strong preference to Deluxe units as a stand-alone resource tool. Some of the comments include: "Self-contained and able to use multiple scenarios at the same time;" "Easier to manage;" Less parts to keep track of;" and, "Better as a loaner option." Of those that preferred Add-ons, the common reality was they provide a more cost-efficient way of having more than one scenario. However, most of these users also recommend that Deluxe units be used for loaner programs. On the question "What do you like best about the EnviroScape programs?" we received many marvelous comments, like "After a demonstration, the concepts are no longer an abstract ideaþmore related to the audience." And, ""Kids love them," and "Versatility in designing the demos to fit the audience," and, "Flexibility of programs -- any age, any program length." We never tire of hearing these wonderful comments. Yet, it is important to note the least liked aspects as well. These comments primarily focus on clean-up time and the fact that often, small pieces will "grow legs." One clean-up comment was "It' dirty, sticky and a pain in the neck to clean right." As we do not have the names of many of the responders, we would like to use this Newsletter as a place to respond to some of these frustrations and ask . . . Is this user cleaning the model right after the demonstration? It does help to sponge off the model thoroughly, right after you complete a demonstration and towel it off as well. Another thought -- using sugar-free drink mix will alleviate some of the stickiness. (Although we do provide sugar drink mix with some of the scenarios, we are evaluating to see if we can find a source for sugar free mix.) Another user comments, "I don' have enough time between school groups to properly clean the model in between each group." If you are conducting successive demonstrations at a school program or community event, you may not be able to use the more lengthy procedure of going through all of the pollution sources first, then coming back and placing BMP' for a comparison. Remember that the models are tools to be modified to fit your specific program needs. Here are some ideas for this user: I keep some felt strips permanently in place on my NPS so I can show comparisons without doing two separate demos. I have applied felt strips to the golf course side of the forestry area, to some streamside and roadside banks and to the agricultural field near the large waterbody. I then apply clay berms at the beginning of each program to the construction area, the crop farming area and possibly streamside with trees to show riparian shading. Use this concept as well on the edge of the field by the stream in the livestock area and incorporate fencing into the tree line with a rolled strip of clay. Then each area can be used to show pollution sources and BMP'. At the end of the demo, a huge rainfall will bring it all to life and help make the clean-up process easier. "The felt strips can be a hassle and are often hard to remove," was another comment we heard more than once. While we address that in the user' guide with instructions to fully wet the part of the landscape top before applying the felt, this is not a foolproof solution for easy removal and there will be some sticky residue that can build up. The other key area we heard about is the functionality and look of the storm drain. This is an area we are actively working on and will have more information in the near future. The idea is to have a recessed drain area and a more streamlined discharge pipe without the depth of the "elbow" currently found underneath the landscape top. We will keep you posted on this. Other areas we are looking into as a result of your survey responses include
These are
areas we are working on and are happy to expand in the future. While we have
not answered every question in this article, we do encourage you to contact
us if you have a comment or question that we have not addressed here. Your
thoughts are important to
us.
These tips are posted here for the first time, then find a home on our web site. Please send your tips.
Check out Our Favorite Links area of our website. We would like to expand this area to provide valuable resources for YOU -- our users and potential users of EnviroScape. But we need YOU to help us! If you have a website or know of a website that would be of interest, please fill out the form BELOW or print off this form and either fax to (703) 631-6558 or mail to EnviroScape, 14524-F Lee Road, Chantilly, VA 20151. Of course, we would like EnviroScape to get a reciprocal link, but if that's not possible, we will understand. All the new links will be listed in our next newsletter, due out next Spring. Thank you for your support!
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Previous Issues Available Online Volume 7, Number 1 -- Spring 1999 Volume 6, Number 2 -- Fall 1998 Volume 6, Number 1 -- Spring 1998 Volume 5, Number 3 -- Summer 1997 Volume 5, Number 2 -- March/April 1997 Volume 5, Number 1 -- January/February 1997 |
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