RCAA's (Redwood Community Action Agency) Natural Resource Services Division, through a California Department of Fish and Wildlife funding source, developed a "Droughtbusters" Rain Barrel Education program for 5th grade classrooms in schools that receive water from the Mad River and Eureka Plain watersheds. Over the course of a one-hour presentation, students come to understand the source of their school's tap water, what a 'water footprint' is (the amount of water one uses in a day), the importance of water conservation (specifically during drought cycles) and the effect of our water use on salmon-bearing stream systems. Students participate in a modified "Pass the Jug" (Project WET) activity that illustrates the impact of multiple water users on a shared resource. Each school receives a 50 gallon rain barrel, installation guidelines and a curriculum extension packet. The program began in Fall of 2015 and will continue through Spring of 2016, serving 22 schools and 39 classrooms. 

"Now is the moment to elevate environmental literacy as an essential element of a 21st century education in California, and to establish the leadership, collaboration, strategic partnerships, and necessary funding to ensure environmental literacy for all California students."    

- Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent (Blueprint for Environmental Literacy p3) 

This is a document that educators, administrators, parents, environmental education advocates, and anyone interested in making sure today's youth get to experience our natural resources should be familiar with. Read more about it here.