Kindergarten Makes a Splash with Watershed Award!

Each year, students across Canada take on inspirational projects to learn about and educate others on the importance of protecting our environment for future generations. This year, our Douglasdale Kindergarten students embarked on just such an initiative and we are SO PROUD to announce that their efforts have been recognized on a National scale! 

Link to Award

Link to Project Profile

Our DDS Kindergarten students and teachers have just been awarded the 2015 GRAND PRIZE for RBC's - Evergreen Watershed Champions project! CONGRATULATIONS!! 

OUR DREAM FOR OUR STREAM - 

A KINDERGARTEN INQUIRY INTO THE BOW RIVER

1. The students took a Field trip to Bow Habitat Station to observe fish, learn about the fish life cycle and understand that fish call the Bow River home. They also partnered with the Calgary Stream of Dreams team creating a dream stream mural. The fish mural as well as its environmental message to the community is situated on the fence at the front of our school. 
   
   
   
   They also spearheaded an interactive water walk for the entire school population to take part in. During the course of the walk, participants stopped at a variety of different stations (created by the Kindergarten classes) that educated them about water issues and the importance of water conservation. Over $400.00 dollars was raised that day for a clean drinking water initiative in collaboration with our school’s “Me to We” club. They donated the money raised to a developing country’s clean drinking water project.
   
   
   
   
   

3. But their work wasn't done. The students also connected with Trout Unlimited Canada and painted yellow fish symbols and the words, “Rainwater Only” beside storm drains around Douglasdale. They delivered informative brochures door to door that educated households about storm drain pollution and its effects on fish habitat. Another field trip saw the students visit Fish Creek Park to observe first hand how storm drains empty into the Bow River. 
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To further deliver their message to the wider community, each Kindergarten student was responsible for enhancing one paper grocery bag, from Planet Organic, with information about water conservation and/or storm drain pollution and it’s effects on our local watershed. The children conveyed their messages through text and drawings. The embellished bags were then returned to Planet Organic (Elbow Drive location) and were handed out to customers on Earth Day!  



“We need to take care of our river. We are lucky to have it in our city.” ~ age 5


“All of the storm drains in our city lead to the Bow River. Nothing bad can go down the
drains. If it does it will kill the fish.” ~ age 5


“The Bow River is close to our school. It is a little piece of paradise!” ~ age 5 

“We are really lucky. The water in the Bow River is so clean and fresh. After it is filtered we can drink it easy. We don’t have to worry about water like kids do in Africa.” ~ age 6



“I saw my neighbour washing his car in his driveway. This is not good! I wanted to tell him to stop because it will hurt the fish in the river, but my Mom doesn’t know him so I can’t go talk to him.”    ~ age 5


“Only rain down the drain. This is what I learned from the Stream of Dreams.” ~ age 6


The fact that this remarkable project was carried out by our school's youngest learners demonstrates that young children CAN make a difference in the world. When students are invited to "dive a little deeper" into complex issues, connect with experts in the field, and share their learning with a wider audience, the impact is far-reaching and lasting!