BLUE RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION
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Mission Statement
Restore and protect watersheds through environmental education, community outreach, partnerships, and collaboration.
About This Cause
Blue River Watershed Association (BRWA) is the first water quality environmental education nonprofit in the Kansas City Metro Area. While now there are other water quality nonprofits in the area, they all have their roots with BRWA. Now surpassing its 20th Year, BRWA is the original in bringing engaging, project-based E-S.T.E.M. (Environment, Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) education to young people throughout the Metro Area on both sides of the state line. Through its banner program, T.R.U.E Blue (Teaching Rivers in Urban Environments) BRWA reaches thousands of school children and community residents, annually. T.R.U.E. Blue enlightens youth about effects of stormwater runoff, chemical pollution, point and non-point pollution, and impacts of human behavior. Each program involves taking students to a local river so that they have first-hand experiences in water testing, standing beside a river, and experiencing nature. For many urban youth this is the first time they have ever been to a river. It becomes a life-changing experience and students are propelled into the desire for a E-STEM career. Volunteers are trained to assist with BRWA programs and work with four students in small groups. This small group approach leads to further learning and enjoyment of the program, and outdoor experience. New volunteers are always welcomed and recruited. BRWA programs are ever-evolving and are state-of-the-art technology now using Veneer water quality test probes with iPads and software screens at the river. Through grants, corporate funding, and donations, these programs are offered to schools and communities at no-charge including busses. Additionally, BRWA has developed a new and exciting community project-based program, CPR: Communities Protecting Rivers. Through Corporate sponsors, or grants, communities near rivers partner with BRWA and the sponsoring corporation to select degraded vacant lots. Together they cleanup these lots, and repurpose them into beautiful rain gardens with native plantings, orchards, natural playgrounds, and green spaces. Homes in these communities realize increased values, residents have clean, healthy choices to visit and recreate, and children have safe, healthy places to play. In return, stormwater runoff is slowed and cleaned before it reaches the river. Its win-win for people and the rivers. As classroom science classes continue to dwindle, BRWA programs enrich classrooms with much needed science curricula. Students soak up the information shared by BRWA's water quality educators and watershed education assistants. Corporations and businesses have formed strong alliances and partnerships with Blue River Watershed Association continuing the ability to bring programs to area youth and residents.