Community and Urban Science Enrichment Water Stewards Program

 

Project Purpose: The Community and Urban Science Enrichment (CAUSE) Water Stewards

Program seeks to expand and extend the work done under their U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency grant #NE96291913. The CAUSE Water Stewards will continue to test water quality sites

around Camden’s waterways, such as the Newton Creek, Cooper River, and Delaware River. The

Stewards then use the collected information, in conjunction with their aquatic training, to present

workshops and other informal presentations to families and students in Camden, as well as those up

river.

 

Brief Description:

CAUSE Water Stewards are high school students in Camden participating in the CAUSE youth

development program at the Center for Aquatic Sciences at Adventure Aquarium. The CAUSE

program provides youth with character education, life skill training, mentoring, and advanced

aquatic science education that leads to paid work as educators for younger kids in their community

in summer science camps. Youth with an interest in furthering their science experiences can choose

to join the Water Stewards program and gain further training in water testing and the importance of

water quality to the environment and city that surround these rivers. These youth will be

knowledgeable about the current state of the local waterways and will become leaders of their

community, educating their Camden neighbors about ways to protect the environment.

 

Resource Values/Project Outputs:

1. The project will lead to a better informed public that understands local water quality issues and

their effects on these waterways, ultimately leading to action to improve conditions as warranted.

2. Additionally, we will create a corps of environmental stewards that are trained with marketable

21st Century workplace skills in water quality monitoring.

 

Cost/Budget:

$25,000 requested

 

Schedule:

Initiation of project in April 2015; with completion by November 2015 (7 months)

 

Permit Status:

n/a

 

List of Partners:

Delaware Riverkeeper Network, US. Environmental Protection Agency, Camden

County Municipal Utilities Authority

 

What is requested from the CWRP/Contribution:

The funds from this proposal would allow the

continued support of staff and youth to do additional water testing sites and extend the testing

beyond the original EPA timeline (ends in June 2015). Additionally, funds would support test

supplies, workshop materials, and travel expenses.

 

Point of Contact:

Barbara Kelly, Director of Development & Communication, Center for Aquatic

Sciences, 1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ 08103, (856)361-1014; bkelly@aquaticsciences.org