By Natalia Bayona
Students in Chelsea build a storm drain model together using plastics and natural materials. Credit: Natalia Bayona
MyRWA’s education team partnered with For Kids Only (FKO) Afterschool for the first time in the fall to design a 10-week program for elementary and middle school students in Chelsea and Everett that draws the connection between climate resiliency, clean water and urban biodiversity. Students worked in groups to design floodplain models and hanging wall planters while learning about ways to address impacts of climate change like flooding and poor air quality in their communities. Students then studied specimens of commonly-found species in their community and crafted bug hotels! Later, through brainstorming solutions to stormwater pollution, students designed storm drain models using recyclables and created signage about the issue of trash pollution at their school.
Our Watershed Educator engaged with up to 20 students per session at each location, and was excited to see the level of enthusiasm and dedication from students and staff along the way.
“It's a lot harder to get [our] older kids to do anything that doesn't involve tech or sports sometimes. So, to see them come down with a project in their hand and speak about what they did is definitely a step out of their comfort zone.” — Victor Coren, Site Director FKO Everett
While most activities took place in the classroom, students were excited to find good hiding spots for their bug hotels and wall planters near their school or in yard spaces at home.
Students in Chelsea find a home for their bug hotel at Berkowitz Elementary School. Credit: Natalia Bayona
“The [activity] I liked the most was…making gardens in a bottle.” -Thai Spencer, student in the FKO Afterschool program in Everett. Credit: The Better India
As a result of this program, MyRWA is co-creating a program with FKO staff on the connection between stormwater pollution and marine debris that will be introduced to students in Winthrop and Revere this spring, with the hope of reaching the same students in Everett and Chelsea this fall. Students and their families will participate in trash cleanups at their local beaches and parks and visit DPW sites to learn how they can reduce trash pollution as part of the curriculum.
MyRWA is thrilled to partner with FKO Afterschool at four of their five Massachusetts locations! Our education team strives to engage with youth in these communities through free of cost, place-based programming to help solve the environmental issues that impact them the most. We encourage interested teachers and youth groups to reach out to Watershed Educator Natalia (Natalia.Bayona@mysticriver.org) and visit our website at mysticriver.org/education to learn more about our program offerings!
