Back to School Stormwater Tips

We know what you’re thinking. “Is it time to go back to school already?” With everyone beginning to prepare for that first day back in class, we wanted to offer a few stormwater tips for parents, teachers and students as we all get ready for another school year.

1. Talk to your child’s teacher about doing a water cycle / water pollution unit this year. LA Stormwater has great educational materials – from coloring books and posters to a DVD and a curriculum – for teachers and students. Visit our online library to see what’s available for your LA-based school and then e-mail us at lastormwater@lacity.org to request materials!

2. Look to LA’s environmental non-profit organizations for educational programs, assemblies and additional classroom resources. Visit these great groups online to learn more!

• Friends of Ballona Wetlands
• Friends of the LA River
• Heal the Bay
• Malibu Foundation for Environmental Education
• TreePeople
• Think Watershed
• 5 Gyres

3. Talk to your school administrators about the importance of keeping school campuses and the community surrounding your child’s school litter free. California Coastal Clean-Up Day on September 15 is a great way to get involved, participate in a clean-up, and educate students and parents about the impact that inland trash and litter has on our local creeks, rivers, and beaches.

4. Take the Clean LA Pledge with your children and encourage your child’s school to do the same. By taking the pledge you’re committing to changing your every day habits and practices at home and school to be environmentally friendly. That means doing everything you can to reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink!

5. Take a field trip or encourage your class to visit an LA aquarium this year for hands-on learning opportunities. The Aquarium of the Pacific, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Roundhouse Aquarium on the Manhattan Beach Pier and  the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium are a great way to teach children that every day actions have a profound impact on the health of our oceans.

Going back to school happens just once a year but keeping our communities and coastal waters free of pollution is something that we need to commit to daily! By pledging to learn more about the clean water educational programs offered above, you’ll be at the head of the class as we head back to school.