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San Leandro Watershed Education and Training Center & Natural History Museum
Education Statement
In 1998, a group of local educators and Friends of San Leandro Creek members formed the CREEKS Committee (Curriculum and Resources in Environmental Education for K-12 Schools). This committee, made up of two elementary school teachers, two middle school teachers, one high school teacher, a university professor and a technical writer, is working to plan, develop, test, and assist in the implementation of a watershed-based curriculum for the East Bay. The goals of the CREEKS program are to actively engage students - and teachers - in several ways:
- Develop problem solving and decision making skills;
- Cultivate the understanding of ecological, cultural, and social systems; and
- Promote collaboration and leadership.
The goals of the program will be achieved through the following actions:
- Develop an educator training program with supporting materials;
- Develop a curriculum with supporting materials specific to each grade level, including service-based learning opportunities; and
- Develop an expert support and community contact resource system.
In summary, the CREEKS program will emphasize ecological and educational themes key to understanding natural, cultural and social systems.
On September 25, 1999, CREEKS held its first pilot teacher-training workshop in the headwaters of San Leandro Creek. The workshop was well attended and all the evaluation responses were very positive. Pilot workshops will continue until the committee is ready to hold a multi-day workshop studying the entire San Leandro Creek Watershed as a teaching tool, tentatively during the summer of 2000.
In addition to developing the CREEKS program, which will ultimately be headquartered in the Center, the CREEKS Committee will assist the Education Committee in developing the Center's displays and resources. These displays and resources may include the following:
Composting
Outside - Functional composting exhibits:
Worm composting, or vermicomposting, bins can be used to compost food waste from the Center's organic garden and from "no waste" lunches brought by visiting school groups. Worm composting is very child-friendly and can serve not only as a waste reduction method and a source of natural soil amendment, but also as a hands-on example of the lifecycle of a familiar invertebrate that is vital to our ecosystem. The product of vermicomposting is nitrogen-rich worm castings, which can be used on houseplants or in the garden. Worm composting can be practiced in small spaces and even in apartments, which makes it appropriate for the many multiple-family dwellings in the surrounding area. Worm bins are readily available from Alameda County Waste Management Authority.
Conventional composting can be demonstrated through the composting of woody and green debris created in the landscaping and maintenance of the Center's grounds. "Fast" and "slow" composting can be contrasted and used as a teaching tool. "Fast" composting involves an attempt to balance the carbon (woody or dry) and nitrogen (green or moist) in a compost pile and requires regular pile turning to keep the oxygen level high. "Slow" composting is more relaxed in that garden waste (in any composition) is left to decompose on its own, with little or no maintenance. Compost bins can be obtained from Alameda County Waste Management Authority or can easily be built from reclaimed wood by local high school shop classes or Scout troops.
Indoor - Sterile Display:
Diagram or cross section of a compost pile. Samples of finished product from conventional and vermicomposting methods. Information on reduced-price compost bins, master-composting classes, etc.
Energy and Water Conservation
Indoor - interactive display:
Display on methods of reducing energy use in homes, offices and schools. Include simple action ideas for young people and teachers, like having a school "light switch monitor" who makes sure that all the classroom lights are off during recess or lunch or a water monitor who regularly checks that faucets and drinking fountains are off and are not leaking. Possibly supply decals about water and energy conservation to be put up in schools and offices. Suggest carpooling to school/work with friends or riding a bike whenever possible. Make available local bus and BART maps and schedules. There could be a small display on proper car maintenance and how it relates to optimum mileage.
Create a display of a miniature house (big enough to walk through) that demonstrates many conservation ideas by having energy efficient lights, low flow faucets and shower, worm compost bin, recycling bins, reused paper as phone pads, canvas shopping bags available for use, non-toxic cleaners, etc.
Outdoor - Functional Demonstration:
Drip irrigation system in garden and other landscaping, cistern collection of roof run-off, passive solar heating.
Native Vegetation
Indoor - Informational Display:
Display photos or drawings of native riparian plant species and provide handouts of species lists and planting guidelines. Provide information on the value of native plants to habitat, bank stability, diversity, etc. Include information on invasive species and their impact.
Outdoor - Demonstration:
Restore site to native riparian vegetation. Species should be labeled. Interpretive signage could provide some of the information discussed in the indoor display.
Native Animal Habitats
Indoor - Visual display:
Color photos of native riparian animals. Brief information on how to create or encourage native animal habitat in yards or school grounds. Brochures on local sites where these animals can be seen. FSLC already has a traveling display with photos that can perhaps be utilized.
Outdoor - Signage:
Interpretive signage regarding native animals (historically and today) included with the native plant outdoor demonstration site. Could include information on invasive species and their impact.
Indoor Pollution Control
Indoor - Informational, Functional Display:
Use of air filters and other devises to combat indoor air pollution. Information on radon, carbon monoxide, lead paint, and other sources of indoor pollution and poisoning, as well as methods of detection and eradication.
(Reduce, Reuse,) Recycling
Indoor - Visual and Interactive Display:
There is quite a lot of information on recycling available. This display might emphasize the reduce and reuse aspects, while providing brochures on local recycling programs. Focus on what individuals, children and school classes can do to reduce waste: collecting used homework and other papers and using the blank back side, bringing lunches in reusable containers instead of pre-packaged meals, and creating a recycling program for school classrooms, using cloth napkins, reusable mugs, etc.
Toxins in the Environment
Indoor - Display:
Earth-friendly landscaping and cleaning product information could be presented in this section. The Alameda County Clean Water Program has excellent handouts on this subject.
Water Quality
Indoor - Interactive Display:
This display could be interactive, allowing visitors to perform tests like pH (using lemon juice, milk, and creek water...), turbidity, etc. A lending library should make testing kits available to teachers to use on their own, in addition to performing the tests on the Education Center site.
A three dimensional model of a watershed will be on display for visitors to observe first hand the effect of contaminated run-off.
Outdoor - Creek Access:
Creek access is available at Root Park, a short walk of approximately two blocks. It is in this park that Education Center visitors can perform water quality tests in the creek itself. At the Education Center site, creek access will most likely be visual but not physical.
Watershed Awareness
Indoor - Visual Exhibit:
Explanation of the concept of "watershed." Map/model of San Leandro Creek Watershed including points of interest. Information on why a watershed focus is important in maintaining and improving environmental health. Description of Friends of San Leandro Creek and other local groups and contact information.
San Leandro/Bay Area History
Indoor - Visual exhibit:
Display of photographs, newspapers, archeological items, maps of the Ranchos and San Leandro yesterday and today, aerial photos, information on local historical sites. Focus on Ohlone Indians, Spanish missionaries and ranchers, Portuguese immigrants, immigrants of Asian and African descent…
Lending Library
Including:
- Water quality monitoring and creek exploration equipment;
- Educational CDs, videos, and audio materials;
- CREEKS curriculum, other environmental curricula for teacher use and check-out;
- Environmental education books and periodicals;
- Newsletters from local and regional environmental organizations;
- Index of educational and environmental resource organizations and individuals with contact information.
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