Education Resources
Boone County Stormwater is proud to partner with local organizations to connect people to our waterways and how we can be stormwater stewards.
To learn more about programming, contact Boone County Stormwater by calling 573-886-4489 or emailing stormwater@boonecountymo.org
Programs
Common programs are listed below. These programs can be customized to fit learning goals, age levels, and time constraints.
Stream Monitoring
Get your feet wet and learn about stream health. Conducting a biological stream assessment involves capturing and identifying macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects and their larvae, and more), which serve as indicators of the health of freshwater streams. Macroinvertebrates are part of the aquatic food web, easy to collect without expensive equipment. Data obtained by macroinvertebrate sampling offers good insight into the longer-term functioning health of a stream and can tell us if this stream needs additional data collection, such as water chemistry analysis.
Who Polluted the Hinkson
Hinkson Creek is a vital water source, home to wildlife, and more. The history and health of our streams and rivers is inextricably tied to the history of the human communities that have settled along their banks. As the numbers and sizes of our communities have increased over time, the health of our waterways has suffered. Sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial wastes are just some of the pollutants that find their way into our rivers. This activity demonstrates that, just as we each contribute to the problem, we must also be part of the solution.
Stream Table
Emriver stream tables are dynamic and engaging hands-on laboratories that put science, technology, engineering, and math into action. An interdisciplinary approach to teaching how rivers work creates good stewards of natural resources.
Enviroscape
EnviroScape makes the connection between what we do on Earth and the impact on the environment.
3M Wetlands Tour Field Trip
Students can observe the wildlife and learn about the importance of wetlands and their function in protecting our water cycle. E-Bird.Org has the 3M Hinkson/Flat Branch Wetlands as a world "hot spot" for bird sightings! Part of the field trip involves a walking tour of the 1.25-mile loop trail around the wetlands. Stationed along the wetland trail are twenty-four educational signs about constructing the 3M wetlands, the wildlife, native plants, and the adjacent historical MKT Trail. These educational and informational signs are incorporated into an educational scavenger hunt. Students search for clues on the 3M Wetlands Educational Scavenger Hunt.
Online Resources
- Wonderful Watersheds Virtual Classroom
- Litter Prevention Virtual Classroom
- Recycling Virtual Classroom
- Water Cycle Virtual Classroom
- Pollinators Virtual Classroom
Partner Resources
Missouri Department of Conservation
Habitat improvements spur wildlife activity and can even enhance property value. See what land management practices are needed to make your property a stronghold for wildlife in your area.
Boone County Soil and Water Conservation District
Soil and water conservation practices installed on agricultural land save soil from eroding and reduce nutrients and other agricultural inputs from entering Missouri's waterways. The Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax provides financial incentives and share the cost between the farmer and the state for implementing soil and water conservation practices that prevent or control soil erosion and protect water quality.
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Protecting Missouri's water quality, including our drinking water and our lakes, streams, and rivers, has always been a priority for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The decisions Missourians make can affect more than just Missouri's quality of water and precious soil resources. Clean water is a shared resource. We all share a common goal of protecting our water resources - because they belong to all of us. That's why it's important for everyone to play a part.
Missouri Stream Team
Missouri has 110,000 miles of streams that provide recreation, drinking water and serenity for ourselves and our children, but they need your help. Stream Teams are made up of people with an interest in, and passion for, Missouri streams. If you are already a Stream Team, this website will provide a wealth of information on organizing your Team, participating in a variety of activities, and communicating with other Stream Teams all across the Show-Me state and beyond. If you are thinking about forming a Stream Team, they have information on that, too.
Exploring the Stream Team website will show you how citizens have adopted a stream, volunteered their own time and effort to improve it, and have banded together with other Stream Teams to help improve Missouri's streams.