Brown Ave. students participate in Scituate Reservoir Watershed Education Program

Third-grade students at Brown Avenue Elementary in Johnston learned how their daily activities can affect the quality of water that they drink through the Scituate Reservoir Watershed Education Program, held recently at the school.

Funded by Providence Water and implemented by the Northern Rhode Island Conservation District, the program aims to educate students about how they can become better caretakers of the watershed, which extends into several communities, including Johnston. Along with education and outreach coordinator Molly Allard, the Feinstein Jr. Scholars created a model community and observed how various pollutants made their way into the lakes and streams.

“I love that program because it ties into real world experiences and our curriculum,” said Paula Ranucci, who teaches third grade at Brown Avenue with Diana Mollicone.

“They learn about the reservoir and how it is utilized. The students also learn about the ways that the reservoir and other underground water supplies can get contaminated by pollution, both deliberate and run off. A model is used to show the children how the contaminates can get to the watershed, and it really resonates with them. Since they will someday be our future leaders and homeowners, if they learn to appreciate the importance of keeping our environment clean, then that will have an important impact on everyone’s future.”