Stage 4 – GGC Project – Community Engagement – 1pt

DESCRIPTION

In this project, students are encouraged to engage their community members in Going Green, both within their school walls and beyond. In this activity, students are asked to become the experts in water and to deliver information and resources to their classmates, teachers, family and community. This is a great time to lean on your AmeriCorps Green School Coordinators for support. AmeriCorps Green School Coordinators train extensively on this information and how to deliver it to your students. If you are unable to connect with an AmeriCorps Green School Coordinator, have your students research the water facts and water actions to build understanding before delivering information to their community.

There are several ways your Green Team can earn this point, including some familiar projects and some brand new! Please read carefully through the options and requirements below and talk with your AmeriCorps Green School Coordinators about the best way for your team to earn this point.

CRITERIA

Choose ONE of the following activities to complete with your Green Team to earn a Community Engagement point:

Activity 1: Deliver “Water in Detroit 101” Information to Classmates

  • Green Team students learn about the basics of water in Detroit with their AmeriCorps Green School Coordinators
  • Green Team students understand and train on the 5 facts and 5 actions included in the “Water in Detroit 101” toolkit piece.
  • Green Team students present the 5 facts and 5 actions included in the “Water in Detroit 101” toolkit piece to 3 classrooms.
  • Collect signatures from at least 40 students and/or staff confirming their intent to put what they learned from the Green Team into action.
  • Green Team submits their signature sheet via Credly.

Activity 2: Deliver “Water in Detroit 101” Information to Community

  • Green Team students learn about the basics of water in Detroit with their AmeriCorps Green School Coordinators
  • Green Team students understand and train on the 5 facts and 5 actions included in the “Water in Detroit 101” toolkit piece.
  • Green Team students present the 5 facts and 5 actions included in the “Water in Detroit 101” toolkit piece to family, neighbors, or other community members.
  • Green Team students collect signatures from at least 20 community members confirming their intent to put what they learned from the Green Team into action.
  • Green Team submits their signature sheet via Credly.

Activity 3: Hold a Parent Water Saving Workshop at Your School!

  • Green Team students work with their AmeriCorps Green School Coordinators to train on a part of the Parent Water Saving Workshop.
  • Green Team students and AmeriCorps Green School Coordinators work with your school PACSA or another parent group to invite parents to your school for a Parent Water Saving Workshop.
  • AmeriCorps Green School Coordinators facilitate a 1.5 hour Parent Water Saving Workshop, with the help of the Green Team. Parents who attend receive valuable water-saving information and free water-saving materials.
  • Green Team submits a sign in sheet, documenting that at least 10 parents were in attendance and a photo of the Green Team assisting in the workshop.

EVIDENCE

To earn this point, you must submit ONE of the following materials. The materials you submit are dependent on which of the three activities your team completes.

Activity 1: to earn this point, you must submit the Classroom Signature Sheet via Credly, confirming that Green Team students have delivered the “Water in Detroit 101” material to at least 3 classrooms and at least 40 students.

Activity 2: to earn this point, you must submit the Community Signature Sheet via Credly, confirming that Green Team students have delivered the “Water in Detroit 101” material to at least 20 community members.

Activity 3: to earn this point, you must submit the sign in sheet from the Parent Water Saving Workshop via Credly. The sign in sheet must show that at least 10 parents were in attendance. Additionally, you must submit a photo of the Green Team assisting the AmeriCorps Green School Coordinators with the workshop.

CREDLY CODE

Use this code to claim your credit on Credly: GGCCommunityWater

Water 101

To be used to train Green Team students for Community Engagement Activities 1 and 2. Please consult with your AmeriCorps Green School Coordinators to help prepare students before delivering this information to their community.

Did you know?

  1. The Great Lakes provide drinking water to 30 million people and represent 21% of the world’s freshwater!
  2. Detroit has a combined sewer system which means that stormwater mixes with the wastewater that goes down the drain and has to be treated using energy and chemicals.
  3. When the combined sewer system of stormwater and wastewater is too full, the facility to clean the water cannot hold all the water resulting in combined sewer overflows (CSO) of untreated sewer water into the Rouge and Detroit Rivers.
  4. In 2014 there were 19 combined sewer overflows (CSOs), which deposited over 3 billion gallons of untreated stormwater runoff from the DWSD plant. That’s over 5,000 swimming pools worth of untreated water!
  5. Blue Green Infrastructure, such as rain gardens and rain barrels, protect the Great Lakes and our drinking water by managing stormwater and preventing pollution while also increasing natural habitat.

Take Action!

  1. Reuse/Recycle Stormwater at home and school. Collected stormwater in rain barrels can be used for gardening, watering lawns and washing vehicles. Collected stormwater decreases the amount going into the combined sewer system and saves money and energy of cleaning usable water.
  2. Disconnecting downspouts. Redirecting stormwater off of your roof onto your lawn keeps the rain out of the sewer system and from contributing to CSOs.
  3. Plant a rain garden or bioswale. Rain gardens and bioswales collect stormwater and keep it out of the combined sewer system while increasing beautification and habitat. Contact Detroit Water Sewer Department to save more
  4. Plant trees! Tree’s leaves catch water to be evaporated and their roots help the soil to absorb stormwater better. Contact Greening of Detroit for more information
  5. Conserve fresh water. Taking shorter showers, turning the faucet off while brushing your teeth and using drought tolerant plants and grasses for yardcan preserve our limited freshwater supply.

Classroom Signature Sheet

To be used and turned in via Credly for Community Engagement Activity 1. Forty (40) signatures from at least 3 classrooms are required to earn this point.

By signing below, I confirm that I have received Water training and pledge to help save water in my school!

# / Classroom / Signature / Will you take action?
EX / 201 / Gino Green / Yes!
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Community Signature Sheet

To be used and turned in via Credly for Community Engagement Activity 2. Twenty (20) signatures are required to earn this point.

By signing below, I confirm that I have received Water training and pledge to save water and money in my home!

# / Signature / Will you take action?
EX / Gabriella Green / Yes!
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Parent Water Workshop Sign In Sheet

To be used and turned in via Credly for Community Engagement Activity 3. At least 10 parents must attend a workshop to receive a Go Green Challenge point. A photo of the Green Team assisting with the Parent Water Workshop must also be included.

School Name: ______

Date of Parent Water Workshop: ______

# / Signature / Will you take action?
EX / Gordon Green / Yes!
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Signature of

Green Team

Member: ______

Signature of

Sustainability

Coordinator: ______