MANASOTA & PEACE RIVER BBDs Meeting Notebook 10-21-09.docx

P259
Youth Water Resources Education
Project Type Basin Initiatives
AOR(s)
Water Supply, Flood Protection, Water Quality, Natural Systems
Basin(s) General Fund (District), Alafia River, Hillsborough River, Northwest Hillsborough, Coastal Rivers,
Pinellas-Anclote River, Withlacoochee River, Peace River, Manasota
Cooperator(s)
Project Manager HULL, MARY MARGARET
Task Manager(s)
Status Ongoing
TORRUSIO, MARY
Description
This Basin Initiative provides funding for a variety of water resources education programs to county school districts,
private schools, homeschool groups and nonformal educators. Program components consist of school board
agreements, teacher training workshops, mini-grants for classroom projects, field trip program support, Envirothon
support and educational resources for students and educators. Agreements with the majority of school districts
throughout the District are completed annually, which provide baseline water resources education programs to
students and teachers. Teacher training efforts ensure that teachers understand and are able to teach students about
relevant basin issues. Training sessions provide background information, materials, experiences and opportunities to
explore topics of importance in the basin. Teacher workshops are conducted by District staff and/or educators who
have been trained by District staff. Participants evaluate the effectiveness of teacher workshops, providing another
method of improving performance. Workshops include information about the District and the basins, as well as basic
hydrology and water management issues. The mini-grant program provides funds directly to teachers to implement
classroom water education projects centered on current basin issues. Classroom projects are designed to increase
knowledge and understanding of the impacts of human activities on the water resources in their basin and to effect
behavior change in regard to water resources conservation and protection. Mini-grant projects must fall into one of six
categories: watersheds, water conservation and supply, water quality, flood protection/drought education, alternative
water sources or natural systems. Projects must also support the District's Strategic Plan. Measurable outcomes
include documentation and evaluation of individual mini-grants including pre- and post-assessment scores, sample
student work generated from the project, video or photographic documentation, and final reports by teachers and
representative students. Mini-grant recipients are required to participate in annual sharing days, which provide an
opportunity for mini-grant participants to showcase their projects and provide model programs for other teachers who
would like to implement water projects in their classrooms. The District provides a variety of educational resources to
educators and students including student newsletters with accompanying teacher's guides, water-testing equipment,
surface and groundwater models, and others. The District also provides kits and boxes specific to water conservation
(the grades K-3 Water Conservation Kit) and watersheds (the grades K-3 Watershed Resource Box and the grades
4-8 Watershed Education Resources Box) that teach students about the importance of water conservation and healthy
watersheds, while meeting Sunshine State Standards and preparing students for the Florida Comprehensive
Assessment Test. Each of these resources includes a big book, several smaller books, a teacher's guide and other
tools and materials used for role-playing and demonstrations. Each county has received kits and boxes for circulation,
and these materials are available through the mini-grant program.
Benefits
The Youth Water Resources Education project forwards the District's mission by providing students, teachers and
families with classroom materials and opportunities for hands-on learning experiences that equip them to make
informed decisions about water resources.
Costs
The proposed FY2010 budget for youth education totals $906,000. Funding is shared among the basins as follows:
Alafia River $58,900; Hillsborough River $189,650; Coastal Rivers $59,200; Pinellas-Anclote River $256,250;
Withlacoochee River $59,200; Peace River $195,550; Manasota $87,250. The District provides $40,000 in additional
funding support. Budget lines below include costs for staff to manage the projects. This program directly reached
553,201 students and teachers in FY2009 through programs, publications and mini-grants. Additional mini-grants are
planned in the Hillsborough River Basin, as Hillsborough County Water Resource Services is requesting to provide
$50,000 from the county's water restrictions violation revenue to extend the reach of mini-grants. Because most, if not
all, of those involved in youth education programs also receive publications, a conservative estimate puts District
outreach at 66 percent of the students in the District at a cost of $1.69 per person.
Additional Information
The FY2009 budget for youth education was $906,000. Funding was shared among the basins as follows: Alafia River
$58,900; Hillsborough River $129,600; Northwest Hillsborough $60,050; Coastal Rivers $59,200; Pinellas-Anclote
River $256,250; Withlacoochee River $59,200; Peace River $195,550; Manasota $87,250. Staff reached a total of
537,670 students and teachers in FY2008 through programs, mini-grants and outreach. A total of 137 school board
020 - Peace River Basin 166