Local Storm Water Educator Available to Schools, Groups

Contact: Michael Dennett, (207) 581-3213, or Laura Wilson (207) 581-2971 or (800) 870-7270

ORONO, Me. — Environmental educator Michael Dennett wants to teach your class or group about storm water runoff. Dennett uses hands-on models and interactive activities to show how runoff from lawns, rooftops and driveways pollutes our streams and rivers via storm drains. His program introduces practices and habits that can keep our local waterways cleaner.

The Natural Resources Defense Council names runoff one of the worst sources of water contamination: worse than factories and sewage plants. Storm water runoff collects dangerous bacteria, toxic chemicals, soil and garbage on its way to our waterways.

Dennett is an AmeriCorps volunteer working for University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Bangor Area Storm Water group. Focusing primarily on Bangor, Old Town, Orono, Milford, Veazie, Hampden, and Brewer, he is seeking schools, teachers, environmental groups, home-school groups, Scouts or other local organizations that want to include watershed and storm water education in their curriculum or activities. Program activities can be aligned with Maine Learning Results.

Dennett is available through August 2006 to do one-time visits, or regular sessions that incorporate more specific aspects of water and water pollution, with the possibility of service-learning activities through a spring stream clean-up or other volunteer service projects. His programs are tailored to grades five through seven, but can be adjusted to other age groups. Contact Dennett at 207-581-3213 for more information.