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ENVIROSCAPE®
NEWS
Volume 8, No. 1
SPRING 2000
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Environment,
Local Schools to Benefit From Philip Morris-Virginia Naturally
Partnership"
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Philip Morris Companies Inc. has donated 23 EnviroScapes to the state
of Virginia and Richmond City Schools. The
gift of 15 EnviroScape( models to Richmond's elementary, middle and
high schools and 8 to the Governor's Academy for Environmental Stewardship
brings to the state the national "Drop by Drop" water pollution campaign
to show individuals how they contribute -- and can prevent -- water
pollution.
"It's
critical that students in an urban school district have the opportunity
to develop an understanding and appreciation for all of our natural
resources," pointed out Dr. Albert Williams, Superintendent of Richmond
City Schools.
"The EnviroScape models will provide our students with an excellent
hands-on learning tool so they may contribute to cleaner waterways."
This gift is the first of its type under the Governor's Virginia Naturally
2000 initiative to promote lifelong learning about Virginia's environment
and stewardship of the Commonwealth's natural and historic resources.
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National
Drop by Drop Campaign
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EnviroScape
models are featured in the national Drop by Drop campaign developed
by the Terrene Institute of Alexandria, Va. A pilot Drop by Drop event
jointly sponsored by U.S. EPA Region 5 and Philip Morris was recently
conducted in Chicago by the Girl Scouts of South Cook County at two
Dominicks supermarkets. For more information on Drop by Drop, contact
Terrene at 800/726-5253 or terrinst@aol.com Return to top
A fun 3-D model of a watershed you create and paint,
this kit is a great hands-on way to have fun while exploring what
a watershed is. The "Make Your Own Watershed Kit" has been created
for learning and is modeled after the award-winning EnviroScape models
used internationally by schools and communities.
It's a great science project -- or you can just have fun building
and painting your own city. The kit contains plaster cast forms for
the landscape and buildings, plaster, paint brushes, non-toxic paint,
felt strips and complete instructions with activities (in English
and Spanish). Sells for $29.95 plus $5.50 shipping and handling. Order
from EnviroScape at 703/631-8810, ext. 10 or use order form at watershedkit.com.
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The EnviroScape
coastal model is in final review with pilot testing getting underway.
The newest in the series of successful EnviroScape models, the Coastal
model represents typical sites found in a coastal area and watershed,
such as a dredged channel and soil disposal area, resort community,
treatment plant, gas station and marina, residential homes with septic
systems and other sites.
It demonstrates
point sources and nonpoint sources of pollution -- and the effects
of both on wetlands, estuaries, the ocean, beaches and even coral
reefs and shellfish beds. Anticipated completion date is late 2000.
Order and pay now, and save $100 with this pre-production price (good
until August 31). Click here to find out more
about the Coastal unit.
EnviroScape has
developed a program designed to make the EnviroScape model affordable
to schools across the nation. The program is currently being piloted
in Virginia and Maryland, with Fairfax County and Loudon County Schools
among the first to participate. "For each state, we are able to tie
the EnviroScape very closely with their individual content standards,
a key to the success of this program," says Erin Foster, Eastern Regional
Director of EnviroScape. "And the savings are significant for the
schools," adds Foster. During this pilot phase, EnviroScape is exploring
schools in other states who also might have an interest in the program.
For more information, contact Erin Foster at 703/631-8810, ext.
12 or email: erin-foster@erols.com.
Teren MacLeod
of our Washington state office has been working with many individuals
and organizations on the development of a "Salmon Habitat Enhancement
Activity" that can be used with the EnviroScape nonpoint source model.
"These activities use everyday materials and the riparian kit to demonstrate
stream restoration and fish habitat," said MacLeod. The user makes
a connection between control of nonpoint source pollution and healthy
streams for sustaining aquatic life." Additional information is available
at enviroscapes.com.
As promised in
our last newsletter, here are the new links listed at www.enviroscapes.com.
Email us at info@enviroscapes.com
to add your website.
- www.amesti.santacruz.k12.ca.us
- Amesti Elementary
School -- "Learning to live in harmony in our watershed." Teaching
literacy through science and the arts.
- Bcn.boulder.co.us/basin
- Boulder
Area Sustainability Information Network (BASIN) -- Learn about the
natural hydrologic cycle from the Boulder Creek Watershed.
- www.cee-ane.org
- The Center
for Environmental Education of the Antioch New England Institute
-- Integrating environmental education into all aspects of the K-12
experience.
- www.kidsforwater.org/title.html
- The Children's
Water Institute is a community-based charitable organization that
promotes environmental awarness through the education of children
at Water and Groundwater Festivals!
- www.classroomlinks.net
- Classroom
Links -- get your school project listed.
- www.ctic.purdue.edu
- Conservation
Technology Information Center -- CTIC leads the development of public/private
partnerships that promote the enhancement of soil and water quality.
- Midusa.net/~water
- Dickinson
County Water Improvement Program (Abilene, KS) -- A cooperative
effort by city, county, state, and federal agencies to reduce nitrate
levels in the Sand Springs Aquifer.
- www.earthwater-stencils.com
- Earthwater
Stencils -- A resource for storm drain stenciling: an educational,
interactive tool to engage people of all ages in community involvement
for watershed pollution prevention.
- www.ecomall.com
- EcoMall: A
Place to Help Save the Earth -- Your link to eco-friendly ideas
and products.
- www.world.std.com/~brd/
- Explore &
Discover: A Museum School Partnership -- This partnership offers
a program where students design interactive exhibits that are shared
system-wide.
- www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6wq/at/nps/f_source.htm
- Possible funding
sources from EPA Region 6.
- www.groundwater.org
- The Groundwater
Foundation is dedicated to informing the public about one of our
greatest hidden resources, groundwater.
- www.ieca.org
- International
Erosion Control Association (IECA) is a non-profit, member organization
providing education, resources and business opportunities for professionals
in the erosion and sediment control industry.
- www.canr.uconn.edu/ces/nemo
- Nonpoint Source
Education for Municipal Officials or NEMO is a University of Connecticut,
Cooperative Extension System project.
- www.spawnusa.org
- SPAWN (The
Salmon Protection and Watershed Network) -- works to protect the
endangered coho salmon, steelhead, and creeks in the Lagunitas watershed.
- www.saveourshores.org
- Save Our Shores
-- promotes and protects the coastal environment of the Monterey
Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
- www.woodinvillewater.com
- Woodinville
Water District -- Providing a safe and reliable water source for
the greater Woodinville, Wash., area.
Special CTIC Offer: we're pleased to extend the special CTIC's
offer of 5% off any one EnviroScape unit and 10% off any two or more
units until August 31, 2000. Order Code CTIC1.
Inventory
Reduction: try the Hazardous Materials EnviroScape at a savings
of 25%! Hazardous materials and waste -- from households, trucks and
trains transporting them, older unlined landfills, leaking underground
storage tanks, and even abandoned industrial sites -- are some of
the topics addressed in this wonderfully interactive model. Shows
sources, proper use and disposal -- and prevention -- even groundwater
contamination. For more information, call us at 703/631-8810, ext.
11. Offer good through September 30, 2000. Order Code: HAZ1. These
offers cannot be combined with any other promotions. For a brochure,
call 703/631-8810, ext. 10 or email us at info@enviroscapes.com.
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These tips are posted here for the first time, then find a home on
our web site. Please send your tips.
- Use clear
cleaning solvent as "invisible" pollutant -- then test pH to
show difference.
- Use soy
sauce to demonstrate motor oil.
- To keep
felt strips from sticking, take the backing off and soak in
clean water to get it wet. Also remove some of the stickiness by
repeatedly sticking it to your hand and removing it. It takes some
of the stickiness off. Goo Gone works wonders to remove sticky.
Stacy Stremsterfer (stacy@ilspringfi.fsc.usda.gov)
- How to
be more successful in the classroom. One way is to ask open
ended questions and let the audience "brainstorm" discussion questions,
ideas and solutions. A question we used for discussion was from
middle school science on earth science, "Human activities change
the earth's land, water and atmosphere. Some of these changes decreased
the capacity of the environment to support life forms." From this
statement we brainstormed and wrote the comments on an easel. We
then went to the EnviroScape NPS unit and discussed these issues.
It was amazing that all the issues that were printed on the board
by nonformal natural resource educators were able to be demonstrated
on the EnviroScape model.
Doug McLaren (dmclaren@ca.uky.edu)
- I'd like
tips on ways to present the NPS unit and the hazmat unit in 20 minutes
or so and how to use it most effectively with larger groups. With
both the NPS and the HazMat models, it is not necessary to go through
the "process" as outlined in the User's Guide. We find the Guide
is most helpful for people who are not in a particular field to
ensure a balanced and factual message. It provides a solid basis
for backgrounding. Teachers without environmental science training
find it extremely helpful. Others who are in the field pick and
choose what elements they will focus on depending on time frame,
audience, key points and experience.
So, you may pick a handful
of areas/activities that represent the conservation principles or
safe management practices and just focus on those to fit your time
constraints. For larger groups here are some suggestions: (1) Perhaps
a lower table with a semi-circle with different height chairs (row
sitting on floor, row sitting on chairs, row sitting on tables).
(2) Or if possible, ask that sessions be in a science lab. This
has been done in presentations to large groups at conferences --
but may be too cumbersome/difficult to do in the schools. (3) Of
course, you can always rotate the front line -- I have used 4 kids
at once to apply something on different areas of the landscape --
each saying what they had done, then 4 others add water -- this
cycle gives 8 at a time the chance to interact -- but you would
need teacher support to make it work. And, pre- or post-info to
reinforce the ideas.
Teren MacLeod (support@enviroscapes.com)
- "I re-wrote
this story to use with younger children, and found a small, wind-up
toy fish at the store that swims around in the Enviroscape lake.
It doesn't take long, and the children love Freddie!" [The original
story came from a "Water Source" book from the Water Environment
Federation; 800/666-0206; wef.org]
Contributed by Tami
Mohler
**FREDDIE
THE FISH**
Imagine that Freddie the Fish lives in this lake here in Garland,
Texas, USA. Fred has lived in this lake all of his life, but now
he is going on an adventure to other water sources that empty into
his lake. Freddie swims into farm country. He passes a freshly plowed
riverbank. He also sees some cows grazing near the creekbank. It
begins to rain and some soil erodes into the river. DUMP SOIL AND
MANURE AROUND COWS AND FARMLAND. ASK VOLUNTEER TO MAKE IT RAIN IN
THIS AREA) How is Fred?
Several factories are
located downstream from the city. Although there are laws that limit
the amount of pollution that the factories are allowed to dump into
the river, the factory owners are not abiding by them. (POUR THE
SOAPY WASTE INTO BUILDING.) How is Fred?
The city's wastewater
treatment plant is also located along this stretch of the river.
Also a section of the plant has broken down. (DROP RED FOOD COLORING
INTO THE WATER) How is Fred?
Fred swims along the
side of a street where some of the cars driving along are leaking
oil. The rain is washing the oil into the river below. POUR OIL
ON STREET. ASK VOLUNTEER TO MAKE IT RAIN ON THE PAVEMENT) How is
Fred?
Fred nears a housing
development. Some people have used fertilizer to help their lawns
grow. (POUR GREEN DRINK MIX ONTO GRASS. ASK VOLUNTEER TO MAKE IT
RAIN ON THE LAWN).
Just like the fertilizer
makes the plants and grass grow in the yard, it also makes the plants
in the river grow very fast and thick. Eventually the river can't
furnish them with all the nutrients they need, and so they will
die and decay. Their wastes will eat up some of Fred's oxygen. How
is Fred? Likewise, they have used pesticides to keep away pesty
bugs. (PLACE RED DRINK MIX ON LAWN. VOLUNTEER MAKES IT RAIN.)
Thunderclouds are once
again forming. How is Fred going to feel? At the local city park,
some people did not throw their trash into the garbage can. The
wind and rain is blowing it into the river. (SPRINKLE PAPER BITS.
BLOW PAPER BITS INTO WATER WITH FAN.) How is Fred?
CONCLUSION: As you can
see, there are many ways that people pollute our water supply. Some
things that we do we are aware of, others are not so obvious. We
need to look for other ways to help keep our water clean. It is
EVERYBODY'S problem, ANYBODY can help solve it. NOBODY should ignore
it. SOMEBODY can make a difference.
- We use
two enviroscape models side by side. We modify one by making
it less environmentally friendly. This is done by removing the water
treatment pipe from the plant, adding more vehicles, removing trees
and vegetation, keeping animals in a confined area etc We do the
opposite with the other model. We allow children to compare the
two models and sprinkle drink mix and hot chocolate on each model
in accordance to how much pollution there is and how much runoff
there will be. The children are able to observe that there is more
pollution and runoff in the less environmentally friendly model
due to the greater amounts of hot chocolate and drink mix that flow
into the watershed.
Chad Horenfeldt
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Our NEW
Favorite Links Area -- Get Listed
in Our Next Newsletter!
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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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Favorite Links Sign-up Form
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OR...
FAX OR SEND TO:
EnviroScape Links
c/o JT&A, inc., 14524-F Lee Road, Chantilly, VA 20151
(703) 631-8810 | Fax (703) 631-6558
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