For too long now, the Long Island bays have suffered from trash dumped into them through the storm drain system. Operation SPLASH has worked tirelessly for 25 years to clean up the waters surrounding the island and to teach each new generation of Long Islanders the importance of maintaining the waterways. Through the ‘Adopt a Storm Drain Project’, SPLASH is partnering with the local school districts to change in the way people think and act. In Freeport this year, 560 second graders participated in a 10-month STEM infused program. During May and June, the students rounded out their years’ worth of education about Long Island’s storm drains and outflow pipes with trips to Operation SPLASH’s Headquarters.

“We hope that by giving students a personal connection to the waterfront and the bays, we can create a new generation of stewards to appreciate and preserve Long Island’s beautiful bays,” said SPLASH Board President Rob Weltner. From September to May, SPLASH Volunteer Mentors visited the schools and presented videos and PowerPoint guided discussions about the dangers of garbage from the land ending up in the bays. SPLASH enlisted the students as ‘citizen scientists’ to collect data, as defined by EPA initiatives. Each class chose a storm drain to “adopt” and kept data on the garbage they saw at that location each month. Dedicated teachers provided classroom STEM projects about the storm drain system and outfall pipes that carry the trash and lawn chemicals to the bay. Throughout the year teachers engaged their students in worthwhile reading, writing, listening and speaking about their natural world. This project culminated in a visit to SPLASH headquarters on the Nautical Mile in Freeport. On the trip, students were treated to a boat ride to see actual outflow pipes in practice, learned about the animal life that benefits from the work that SPLASH does, took a Walking Tour of the Nautical Mile and built working models of the storm drain system.

Adelphi Assistant Clinical Professor Mary Jean McCarthy, was enthusiastic about the program and its impact on the students. She believes that through this program, students can turn their curiosity and concern about the natural world into a proactive attitude for cleaning up the bays.  “What a privilege it has been for the SPLASH Mentors and Adelphi Professors to work with teachers and their students who have an innate concern and respect for the creatures of the bays,” says McCarthy. “It was clear to us that their dedicated teachers capitalized on their students’ caring attitudes, motivating them to comprehend significant conceptual understandings and empowering them with the language and skills necessary to protect marine creatures and care for their community. What a wonderful culminating experience.”

In its second year, SPLASH’s ‘Adopt a Storm Drain Project’ is funded by Nassau County’s Community Block Grant and is run in collaboration with Adelphi University’s School of Education to serve low-moderate income school districts. Uniondale and Long Beach schools are now exploring the idea for the 2015-2016 school year.