NCS000482_ENG 3341 Public Education and Outreach Presentations and Events_20220526

SOP No. ENG-3341
City of SOP
Date: 11-23-2021
oiiroRevision Date: 01-24-2022
Engineering Approved:
Public Education and Outreach - Presentations and Events
Purpose
To provide guidance on the processes used to schedule, prepare, teach / educate and track public
education and outreach events within the City of Monroe.
Procedure
Scheduling:
Educational Presentations:
The Environmental Educator shall promote educational programs by posting information on the
Stormwater Services website, emailing local schools within the city limits, networking with other
educators, and tabling at local events. All inquiries received on the Stormwater Hotline and other
Engineering Department staff about educational opportunities shall be forwarded to the
Environmental Educator to pursue.
The Environmental Educator shall schedule presentations with a coordinating school teacher(s), club
leader(s), camp coordinator(s) or organization leader(s). The specific educational theme, equipment
and any curriculum connections are established with the coordinator/leader. The Environmental
Educator shall add the organization to the latest version of the Educational Programs Schedule
(located in I:\Stormwater\Stormwater Management Program\NPDES Phase II\Six Measures\Public
Education\Schedules and Tracking\Schedules). If the Environmental Educator needs assistance
facilitating the programs, the Environmental Educator shall coordinate with the Stormwater Engineer
in soliciting Engineering Department staff for assistance.
Program specific information, such as equipment needed, is detailed in the Program Facilitation
section (II) below. Presentations are adapted depending on audience size, age, setting and interest of
the group.
For the EnviroScape to be fully interactive the maximum group size recommended is 30 students. The
program length can vary depending upon the schedule and depth of lesson requested, but should be
at least 30 minutes. If teaching multiple lessons in a row, its best to schedule it so the model stays in
one location with students rotating through with a 10 minute buffer time to cleanup and reset.
The storm drain model is versatile because it can be dry or wet demonstrations depending on the
setting and the length is entirely dependent on the audience. Due to its size, complexity and
construction the storm drain model should be used for larger events where it does not need to be
moved around.
Event Displays:
The Environmental Educator shall seek out and receive requests to host a booth at public or
community events. The Environmental Educator shall fill out any applicable vendor forms. If the
Environmental Educator needs assistance with facilitating the event, the Environmental Educator shall
coordinate with the Stormwater Engineer in soliciting the Engineering Department staff for assistance.
When possible, the Environmental Education should try to coordinate with an Event Coordinator for

non -city employees to assist with the booth. The Environmental Educator is responsible for
coordinating all event activities including, but not limited to, determining the booth theme, selecting
which demonstration equipment, educational outreach materials and promotional items to bring and
scheduling staff / volunteer assistant(s) to help with setting up / tear down of the booth, and activity
facilitation during the event.
Program Facilitation:
Educational Presentations:
EnviroScape Model
Supplies Needed:
• EnviroScape model carrying case includes the following; buildings, bridges, fencing, animals,
vehicles, various "pollutant" shakers (animal waste, yard waste, fertilizer, pesticide, oil,
sediment, and litter), soapy water sprayer and plug.
• Supplies box contains trees, buffers, clay, dog poop example, storm drain markers, and extra
soap.
• Pack paper towels, extra water jug, cloud sprayer
• PowerPoint presentation (if technology is available)
• Example pictures (if technology is not available or not preferred)
• Watershed map (optional)
• Prizes
The pollutant shakers symbolize different pollutants by using a variety of non -toxic substances,
including but not limited to; cocoa powder, pudding mix, colored sprinkles, Jell-O mix and herbs as
long as students can discern the different elements being added.
Setup:
The facilitator(s) shall first insert the plug in the lake so the water does not drain underneath. The
facilitator(s) shall choose buildings, animals and vehicles depending on the topics to be covered during
the presentation and place them along with the bridges and trees on the model.
The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) can decide if they want to hand out prizes
throughout the program as questions are answered or handed out at the end to all participants for
being a great audience. The facilitator should try keep track of amount of prizes given away.
Presentation Outline:
The EnviroScape model is a 3D watershed tool to illustrate how water moves through a landscape and
how stormwater runoff becomes polluted. The outline below should serve as a guide or starting point
to be modified depending on the size, age, setting and interest requested by the organizer. Depending
on the setting and technology available, the facilitator(s) can choose to bring a PowerPoint
presentation with example pictures to support the model, or hardcopy pictures to display additional
examples.
The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) should introduce themselves. To
start off with student engagement, ask the students what the word pollution means to them
and tell the audience you are here today to talk about water pollution.
The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) shall open discussion on the concept
of a watershed. A watershed is an area of land that drains to the same place. Due to gravity,
water flows downhill and will flow to the lowest point in the watershed.
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• The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) shall explain that the EnviroScape is
a small model of a watershed. The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) shall
pour a bit of water in the creek between the forest and the factory and let the students see the
water flow down to the lake.
• If a watershed map is available, the Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) can
cover information on the local watershed and tell the students we all live in a watershed.
• The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) shall introduce the different land
uses on the model and see if the students can imagine any similar places in their neighborhood.
• If reviewing point source pollution and non -point source pollution, the factory is the best place
to introduce point source pollution because the facilitator(s) can use the "oil" squeeze bottle to
inject cocoa mix into the roof hole to mimic an overflow or improper waste disposal.
• Depending on the audience, the Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) can have
students help with applying the pollutants or making it rain on the various land use examples for
extra student involvement. Rules such as number of pollutant shakes or number of sprays of
water can be useful to avoid overuse by the students.
The facilitator(s) can wrap up by polling participants or reminding them about watersheds. The
facilitator(s) shall emphasize that most of the examples shown today were not intended to be
pollution. By making more people aware of how everyday items become pollutants and possible
effects of such pollutants, we can prevent the pollution from occurring in the first place. Water quality
is everyone's responsibility because anything that happens in a watershed can contribute to water
pollution.
Post -presentation break down:
The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) shall wash any remaining pollutants into
the lake, then place one of the plastic storage containers under the plug and drain the model. To reset
for another presentation, its best to wipe down the display. Please note, the clay that anchors the
trees will start to lose effect after too many demonstrations in a row, so only use as much water as
needed. If using buffers, they also become saturated and are less effective as portraying water
retention. At the end of the event, the Environmental Educator shall completely clean the
EnviroScape.
When the Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) return to the office, the
Environmental Educator shall open the case, clean items as necessary and allow all items to dry out
before storing.
For more information about conducting EnviroScape presentations, please reference the EnviroScape
User's Guide (hardcopy is in roller case and digital copy is located in I:\Stormwater\Stormwater
Management Program\NPDES Phase II\Six Measures\Public Education\Educational
Equipment\EnviroScape)
Storm Drain Model
Supplies Needed:
• Low table
• Storm drain model
• Receiving stream model
• PVC pipe
• Ping pong balls with pollutants written on them (to be used without water)
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• Pollutant pieces (Styrofoam, leaves/pine needles, beads, tiny food, soil, soap) (to be used with
water)
• Bucket & pool net (to be used with water)
• Take animals from EnviroScape
• PowerPoint presentation (if technology is available)
• Example pictures (if technology is not available or not preferred)
• Book (optional)
Setup:
For younger students it is recommended to setup on the low (blue) table so everyone can see the
model. From the participant's point of view, the Environmental Educator or their designee
facilitator(s) shall set the receiving model on the left side of the table and the storm drain model to
the right. The PVC pipe fits underneath the storm drain model and through the hole on the side of the
receiving model. Prop the backside of the receiving model up with the brick so the pollutants can flow
downstream. Add buildings or animals to the receiving stream and the car to the street. Additional
storm drain marker examples can be displayed or passed around.
If doing a dry demonstration, use ping pong balls with pollutants written on them.
If doing a wet demonstration use the boxes of example pollutant pieces. The Environmental Educator
or their designee facilitator(s) shall place the bucket below the drainage hole at the end of the stream
with the pool net on top to screen out the pollutants for reuse.
Presentation Outline:
The outline below should serve as a guide or starting point to be modified depending on the size, age,
setting and interest requested by the organizer. Depending on the setting and technology available,
the Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) can chose to bring a PowerPoint
presentation with example pictures to support the model, or hardcopy pictures to display additional
examples.
• The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) should introduce themselves. To
start off with student engagement, ask the students what the word pollution means to them
and tell the audience you are here today to talk about water pollution.
• The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) shall define stormwater runoff,
reviewing the water cycle and how people and land use have changed the way water moves
over the landscape.
• The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) shall explain the storm drain model
and show to pictures of other types of storm drain infrastructure. Ask the students if they recall
seeing any of these structures outside.
• Depending on the setting and audience, the Environmental Educator or their designee
facilitator(s) can decide whether to hand out pollutants as participants list them or have them
come up and randomly select a pollutant.
• The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) shall explain that this is an example
of what not to do! One at a time participants will come up to dump their pollutant down the
storm drain. The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) shall expand on each
pollutant with descriptions and picture examples. Ask participants if they can think of sources of
the specific pollutant and what people can do to prevent this from occurring.
• If doing a wet demonstration, the Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator can
decide on whether they would like to have it rain after each pollutant addition or at the end.
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The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) shall open discussion of the concept
of a watershed. Explain to the students that anything that ends up in the receiving stream model
has the potential to end up in the ocean.
The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) can wrap up by polling participants
or reminding them about watersheds. The Environmental Educator or their designee
facilitator(s) shall emphasize that most of the examples shown today were not intended to be
pollution. By making more people aware of how everyday items become pollutants and possible
effects of such pollutants, we can prevent the pollution from occurring in the first place. Water
quality is everyone's responsibility because anything that happens in a watershed can contribute
to water pollution.
Post -presentation break down:
The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) shall wash any remaining pollutants
from the receiving stream into the bucket/pool net, pick out any pieces of pollution that remain
in the model and wipe down the display.
When the facilitator(s) returns to the office, the Environmental Educator shall clean and allow all items
to fully dry. The Environmental Educator shall sort the dry pollutants back into their separate
containers for reuse.
Public Event Displays
Supplies Needed:
• Tent & tent weights
• Table & tablecloth
• Demonstration equipment; EnviroScape, Storm Drain Model, Posters, Maps, Prize Wheel, etc.
• Educational materials & business cards
Prize Wheel
Supplies Needed:
• Prize wheel & stand
• Table
• Question cards & holders
• Prizes in boxes with lids
Pre -event procedure:
Before going to an event, the Environmental Educator will take the prize wheel out to review the prize
wedges and question cards. If there are new promotional items to giveaway or new question cards to
be added, the Environmental Educator can modify the templates or re -print any materials in the
following folder L\Stormwater\Stormwater Management Program\NPDES Phase II\Six
Measures\Public Education\Educational Equipment\Prize wheel to customize the prize wheel for the
event.
The Environmental Educator shall pack the prizes that correspond with the prize wheel wedges in
display boxes with lids, so citizens will be able to see the prizes without confusing them as "freebies."
Setup:
The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) shall position the prize wheel on a sturdy
table next to question cards and lidded prize boxes.
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Prize Wheel Procedure:
1. The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) will ask a citizen if they would like to
play for a prize!
2. The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) will ask the citizen to select a
category or level of difficulty. The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) will use
their judgement, but generally only allow small kids (under 6) to answer " V questions.
3. The Environmental Educator or their designee facilitator(s) will select a question card and hold it
up so the citizen can look at it while the City staff / volunteer reads it aloud to them.
4. If the citizen answers correctly, the citizen can spin the wheel for a prize, if not ask the citizen if
they want a different question or see if they have any questions. Stormwater Services purpose
at events is to make education fun!
Tracking
The Environmental Educator will record the event details including, estimated public participation and
staff or volunteer involvement on the latest version of the Public Education & Participation tracking
document (located in I:\Stormwater\Stormwater Management Program\NPDES Phase II\Compliance
& Assessment\Tracking for Annual report). Any pictures from the event will be saved in the applicable
folder within P:\Stormwater\Six Measures\Public Education and topic photos\Presentations and
Events.
An event summary shall be created for public events that are entered into the Public Education &
Participation tracking document under the "Displays and booths at public events" category. The event
summary shall document the event date, location, any organization partners and can include any of
the following to provide context to the event: educational equipment used, display details, outreach
materials disbursed, attendee numbers and special giveaway items as necessary. There is a template
file (labeled TEMPLATE that is located in I:\Stormwater\Stormwater Management Program\NPDES
Phase II\Compliance & Assessment\MS4 Program Binders\MS4 Binders\D-1 Public Educ and Part
Programs\Public Education Event Summary Sheets). All completed event summary sheets shall be
saved in the applicable year folder and a printed copy shall be placed in the D-1 binder.
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