Environmental education and community outreach are priority activities for the Niantic River Watershed Committee.
What Is Environmental Education?
“Environmental education (EE) is a process that helps individuals, communities, and organizations learn more about the environment, and develop skills and understanding about how to address global challenges. It has the power to transform lives and society. It informs and inspires. It influences attitudes. It motivates action.” –North American Association for Environmental Education
Events
The NRWC engages in environmental education in many ways such as participating in the annual Earthfest CT at McCook Point Park and East Lyme Day in downtown Niantic. Adult visitors to the NRWC exhibit booth can engage with practitioners on interests related to preserving and protecting the Niantic River watershed and Long Island Sound. Children and youth have fun magnet-fishing, exploring issues with EnviroScape® models, and viewing local marine life on display before their release back into Niantic Bay.
Water Quality Loan Kits
In response to requests from watershed teachers for assistance with teaching watershed and water quality concepts, NRWC developed a Water Quality Loan Kit. The kit contains the test kits and materials necessary for students to test fresh waters for nitrogen (as ammonia, nitrate and nitrite), pH, phosphate (PO4), dissolved oxygen, and temperature. A variety of test types are included to introduce students to different testing techniques, including colorimetry (adding a reagent to a sample and matching the resultant color to a standard), titration (counting the number of drops of a reagent added to a solution before a color change occurs), and direct reading from equipment such as thermometers.
The kit includes nets, buckets and hand lenses so students can gather aquatic flora and fauna, and also sample lesson plans. Water Quality Loan Kits are available for loan to schools located in East Lyme, Montville, Salem and Waterford schools.
Watershed Model Loans
To multiply our water quality and watershed education efforts and reach, the NRWC offers EnviroScape® Model loans to schools and community organizations. Available for loans of up to two weeks, the EnviroScape Watershed/Nonpoint Source model and the Coastal Watershed Model are engaging 3D models that enable activity participants to more easily visualize the sources and effects of runoff and water pollution.
Guest Lectures
We love to talk about the Niantic River and the watershed. If you would like a NRWC member to visit your community event or classroom for a free talk about water quality and the Niantic River watershed or Long Island Sound, please contact the NRWC Coordinator.
Outdoor Stormwater Collection
NRWC participates in the Outdoor Stormwater Classroom for third-grade students, at the Hole in the Wall parking lot in Niantic each spring. Students and teachers view and learn about a variety of Long Island Sound stormwater treatment practices to protect water quality. NRWC joins other environmental professionals in leading the Outdoor Stormwater Classroom, including individuals from the Town of East Lyme, CT Department of Environmental Protection, UConn Extension Service, Southeastern Connecticut Regional Resource Recovery Authority and Eastern Connecticut Conservation District.
For more information about the Hole in the Wall Outdoor Storm Water Classroom, visit the Hole in the Wall page at the Town of East Lyme’s website.