Stormwater - Art - Schools

Since 2020, environmental educators from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island and the Providence Parks Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership have worked with Rhode Island schools and teachers to engage students about stormwater and how it affects water quality and wildlife habitat. Students are also empowered with knowledge about how they can help at home and in their communities. The science-themed lessons are a mixture of in-person time at each school, as well as outdoors in Roger Williams Park and other locations with green infrastructure, where these water quality improvement projects can be highlighted.

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Students then take the information and knowledge that they learn about stormwater and water quality and work with teaching artists to develop and design a stormwater-themed art project. Originally, murals were painted near storm drains around their schools to help educate the general public about what is in stormwater runoff, what happens to it once it goes down the drain, and how it can affect nearby lakes, rivers, and estuaries.  A compilation of all student-designed storm drain murals can be viewed and located on this MAP.  We documented the student's learning and design process as well as the final outcome of the murals with a short video that was showcased at the 2021 Rain Harvest Festival.  

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In 2023, students worked with teaching artists to create designs to paint onto rain barrels donated by Coca-Cola Beverages - Northeast. Some barrels were placed at participating schools, and others were auctioned or raffled at the 2023 Rain Harvest Festival.

 

In 2024, students assembled and painted bird and pollinator boxes with "green roofs" made of native sedum plants! These boxes have been placed at a variety of locations around the state, accompanied by educational signage about stormwater and the importance of pollinators and biodiversity.