Funds were used to provide in depth Maritime Ecology Education to students from low-mod income areas, predominantly Freeport School District. Students were provided with rich experiences, materials and media to assist them in learning Science, Technology, Engineering and Math through the ‘Adopt a Storm Drain Program’ which covers the effects of storm drain run-off in Nassau County.

The low-mod income population was significantly impacted by the utilization of materials and trips provided by the funding. In the Freeport School District for instance, four elementary schools participated in the ten month program. Sixteen 2nd grade classes worked with a SPLASH Mentor, received two or three presentations, painted their local storm drain with ‘Do not litter, drains to bay’ stencil and charted their findings of debris each month. In addition, the teachers, Adelphi University and SPLASH collaborated to enrich the classroom lessons that supported the project. In May, the classes visited SPLASH headquarters on the nautical mile to take baot rides to see the storm drain outfall pipes, take a guided walking tour and build a functioning storm drain model on site. The Middle and High School students who participated in the same project, were able to use computer skills to plot their own data and build their excel skills.

At the year-end Recognition Event for the Teachers and Mentors, one 2nd grade Freeport teacher, Jahn Corbin was asked, “Does a program like this differently impact low-mod income students?” Her answer was, “I think yes, absolutely! Because, in our community here in Freeport these children are deprived of a lot of things that other kids in more influential communities have. I know in my classroom, something as simple as a pencil – they appreciate so much. So, the fact that they had the trip here to Operation SPLASH headquarters, they got to go on a boat ride, they walked the Nautical Mile those are things they would never get if it wasn’t for school and participating in this program. And, that is the real hands on that made them open their eyes. On the boat ride they were pointing out the storm drains and walking to the playground they want to pick up the litter.”

In total, 1941 students were impacted by the program funded by CDBG38. These include Freeport, East Meadow, Locust Valley, Oceanside and Bellmore. Surveys completed by participating teachers demonstrate more than 90% satisfaction in all areas surveyed. Freeport has requested the ‘Adopt a Storm Drain Program’ become the standard curriculum for 2nd grade in all of its schools going forward. NYS Dept of Education has filmed the program and interviewed key participants to exemplify the success for ‘Engage NY’.