Blue River Watershed Association

CPR: Communities Protecting Rivers is a program designed to meet Community Outreach goals of BRWA's mission.  Potential communities near a river are targeted. Through corporate or grant funding, BRWA assists communities in identifying vacant lots,  cleaning up and repurposing the lots into native plantings, rain gardens, orchards, and natural playgrounds. Unlike similar projects, CPR provides funds for residents to realize results.   BRWA subawards other nonprofit partners such as Urban Rangers, to assist project communities in these efforts. BRWA calls on its network of municipal, for-profit, and nonprofit partners to assist in CPR.  CPR's end result is complete transformation of a community. By removing dumpsites, overgrown vegetation, and at times vacant homes communities are re-vitalized and invigorated to continue in its healing and progress. Home values increase, communities become safe, and more livable; and, stormwater runoff entering the nearby river is reduced. This program is Service Marked by Blue River Watershed Association.

Eco-Kids Club is an 8-session after-school program designed for students in Grades 3rd-5th. This hands-on, experiential environmental learning program highlights for students topics such as watersheds, stormwater runoff, causes of water pollution, chemical pollution, and point and non-point pollution.  All sessions are taught by BRWA educators. This program is Service Marked by Blue River Watershed Association.

Macros is fast becoming a favorite for both teachers and students in 5th Grades - High Schools. Macros teaches students about macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of water quality in local watersheds, classification and field identification skills, stormwater runoff, pollution, and the impacts that people have on aquatic species.  Macros program leads students to employ critical thinking with a hands-on, experiential approach by using the presence, or absence, of macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs, largely in the larval stage in shallow pools and riffles in streams, creeks, and rivers) to indicate clean or polluted water. This 2-day, 2-lesson program includes a classroom, and a riverside field session. Macros curriculum is current with Missouri and Kansas Science State Standards.

KC Clean Streams is the largest school-led trash cleanup initiative in the Kansas City Metro Area. Each year participation has increased. Funding comes from local corporations, municipalities, conservation departments, and business owners. The first 1,000 participants get a free T-shirt. Typical participation is over 5,000 students, teachers, and parents, collecting trash near streams and rivers totally 800 bags, and 1,200 pounds! This program is Service Marked by Blue River Watershed Association.