Stenciling: Advice for Teachers and Parents/Guardians
Before the Stenciling Day
- Before using stencils for the first time, be sure and “weed” remaining letters from the die cuts, to avoid having small plastic pieces wash into the drains while you're stenciling. “Stencil weeding” is a good pre-stenciling activity.
- Remind stencilers to wear old clothes. Rubber gloves are also helpful, as are plastic bags worn over shoes. Bring rags to clean up paint on fingers, and plastic bags to bring back used gloves, rags, and any garbage you pick up.
- You might want to consider making up “Wet Paint” signs to tape next to the stencils, and remove them at the end of the activity.
On the Stenciling Day
- Make sure that at least one person is designated as a traffic lookout/safety coordinator, alert for car and bicycle traffic.
- Rotate jobs regularly among the team members, to avoid boredom and vary experience.
- Be careful of wind when spray painting. Spray very close to the stencil and make sure team members (and pedestrians) stand far enough back.
- It might be helpful to use bricks, duct tape or large stones to hold down stencils.
- Avoid stenciling drains if a car is parked close by!
- Do not paint sidewalks, driveways or any private property! Paint only on the road directly next to the storm drain.
- Use the wire brushes or whisk brooms to sweep dirt away from drain so the paint will stay. Sweep into garbage bags; do not sweep into the storm drain!
- Be careful not to drop supplies and personal items down the drain!
Sample Letter to Chief Municipal Official
(Date)
(Mayor or Selectperson)
City Hall
Your Town, USA
Dear:
I am writing to notify you that (name of group or school) will be conducting our storm drain stenciling project on (date and time). The rain date for this project is (date and time).
We will be stenciling with approximately 100 middle school students, working in about 25 teams. Each team will include an adult supervisor. We are currently discussing with the Department of Public Works which city streets to stencil.
In conjunction with this activity, the students will be distributing educational flyers that list items typically placed in storm drains and alternative solutions to dumping them down drains, where they eventually find their way to (name of waterbody). Stencils of fish and the message “Don't Dump: Drains to Harbor” (“River”/“Marsh”) will be painted with nontoxic white paint, as recommended by the DPW.
The (name of community) support for this project is greatly appreciated. It demonstrates your willingness to alert residents to water quality issues, and shows a dedication to finding ways to educate people about ways they can make a difference. We invite you to join us for the stenciling activity.
Thank you again for your continued support.
Sincerely,
(Storm drain stencil program coordinator)
Cc: Director, Department of Public Works
Chief of Police
Other coordinators (teachers, etc.)
Sample Press Release
For Immediate Release
26 October, 1999
For more information, contact:
Victoria Boundy, Coastal Resources Coordinator
Merrimack Valley Planning Commission
(978) 374-0519
Rupert Nock Middle School Students to Stencil City Storm Drains
The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC) and Eight Towns and the Bay (8T&B), a coastal group, are organizing a storm drain stenciling project with 195 middle school students on Thursday, November 4th. The rain date for the event is November 5th. Storm drain stenciling is a fun and hands-on means to educate and promote voluntary action for pollution prevention. The stenciled messages, painted next to city storm drains, will alert residents to the dangers of dumping items such as motor oil, pet waste, antifreeze, rubbish and lawn waste into storm drains, where they are transported into the Merrimack River and Plum Island Sound.
The stencils, which feature a fish and the messages “Don't Dump. Drains to River” ("Harbor/Marsh"), were purchased with funding from Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management and 8T&B. They will be made available on a loan basis to interested organizations and schools, free of charge, along with an information resource kit, says Victoria Boundy, Coastal Resources Coordinator for MVPC. Ms. Boundy is coordinating the project with teachers from Rupert Nock Middle School.
In conjunction with the November 4th stenciling project, students will be passing out an information sheet that lists items typically placed in storm drains, some of the effects these items have on marine life and water quality, and suggested solutions for addressing the problems. They will also be collecting water samples at outfall pipes along the Merrimack that are connected to the storm drain systems they are stenciling. The data these students collect will be sent to MVPC to incorporate in their Newburyport Roadway Runoff project, which is assessing sources of runoff pollution impacting the Merrimack River.
The Rupert Nock storm drain stenciling effort will be part of a national “Million Points of Blight” campaign organized by The Center for Marine Conservation to educate and involve individuals and groups in the prevention of nonpoint source pollution. Studies in Wisconsin, Oregon and Washington have shown stenciling works to raise awareness of pollution and stormwater runoff. Over 75% of people who had seen stenciled drains knew where their water went, compared to about a third of those who had not seen a stenciled drain.
Support and permission for the project was granted by the City of Newburyport Mayor's Office and the Department of Public Works. Some of the materials that will be used, such as wire brushes and paint, were purchased with funding generously provided by the Newburyport Business Education Coalition.
For more information about the project, please contact MVPC at (978) 374-0519.
