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Win a bike
or kINDLE!
Water Warrior Name: ______________________________________________
A Water Activity Booklet brought to you by:
Cool
Prizes!
AcknowledgmentsColorado Springs is in a drought. We all need water and conserving it is more important than ever! The Water Warriors booklet is brought to you by the following partner organizations:
Bear Creek & Fountain Creek Nature Centers – part of the El Paso County Parks system, these nationally recognized nature centers provide nature and cultural programs, trails, and facilities for all interests and ages.
Catamount Institute – a non-profit organization providing environmental science education and sustainability programs with the mission to inspire ecological stewardship from school rooms to board rooms.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – located in the foothills, the zoo has over 550 animals from all over the world to connect people with wildlife and wild places through experiences that inspire action.
City of Colorado Springs Stormwater Engineering Section – provides community education on managing stormwater runoff to protect water quality, people and property in Colorado Springs and in communities downstream.
Colorado Springs Utilities – a community-owned utility providing water, wastewater, electric and natural gas services since 1925 with the mission to serve and connect its customers.
eleSTEMary – a Pikes Peak Regional Network for Elementary STEM Educators that promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education awareness among elementary educators.
Friends of Cheyenne Cañon – a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and enhancing the natural, scenic and historic resources of North Cheyenne Cañon Park.
Friends of the Garden of the Gods – a non-profit volunteer organization with the mission to help the City of Colorado Springs preserve, protect and promote Garden of the Gods Park by helping maintain it, and educating citizens and youth.
Imagination Celebration – a non-profit organization that has been serving the Pikes Peak region for 25 years by connecting people of all ages through the life-enhancing power of creativity.
Kids on Bikes – an organization with the mission to inspire and empower kids to lead healthy, active and happy lives through biking.
Pikes Peak Library District – a free public library system since 1903 providing resources and opportunities that change individual lives and build community.
Science Matters in America – promoting hands-on science learning for elementary students through after-school clubs, summer camps, birthday parties, assemblies and family science events.
1
Earn cool
prizes from the
Treasure Box
Get a water
bottle or shower
timer and enter
to win a bike
Receive a low-flow
showerhead and
compete to win a
Kindle.
Are YOU up for the Water Warrior challenge?
How to use this booklet:
Become a Water Warrior: Water Detective is for beginners and designed to complete at home. Water Explorer is an intermediate level that requires activities around town or on-line searches. Water Engineer is an advanced level where you design a showerhead.
Level 1: WATER DETECTIVE (activities at home)
Take the Water Warrior Conservation Pledge on page 2 AND complete at least 6 activities in the Level 1: Water Detective section of this booklet (see pages 3-12). Water Detectives choose
cool prizes from the Treasure Box at one of the locations listed below. (Answer key located on page 14.)
Level 2: WATER EXPLORER (visits around town)Take the Water Warrior Conservation Pledge on page 2,
complete Level 1 requirements AND do 4 or more Level 2: Water Explorer adventures (see pages 15-24 and map on
page 29). Bring your completed booklet to one of the locations listed below to receive a water bottle or shower timer and enter the
drawing to win a bicycle (thanks to Kids on Bikes). One entry per person.
Level 3: WATER ENGINEER (showerhead design)
Take the Water Warrior Conservation Pledge on page 2, AND submit your showerhead prototype (pages 26-28). Water Engineers, bring your prototype to one of the locations
listed below to receive your free, low-flow showerhead. The best prototype entry will win a Kindle. One entry per person.
Treasure Box, Prize and Drawing/Entry Locations (see map on page 29):
Ø Colorado Springs Utilities Conservation and Environmental Center (M-F 9am-5pm).
Ø Penrose Library Branch (M-Th 9am-9pm, F-Sat 10am-6pm).
Ø East Library Branch (M-Th 9am-9pm, F-Sat 10am-6pm).
Water Warrior challenge deadline is AUGUST 16, 2013 to collect prizes, enter drawing or submit entry. Winners will be announced on September 7, 2013 at the What IF Festival (www.WhatIF-Festival.org). Need not be present to win.
2
Water Warrior Conservation Pledge
Water needs your help. How will you conserve water?
As a friend of water, I pledge to:(check all that you can do)
� Shorten my shower time to only 5 minutes.
� Fill the bathtub only half full when I take a bath.
� Turn off the water while brushing my teeth.
� Scrape instead of rinse my dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
� Keep a pitcher of cold water to drink in the fridge instead of running the faucet.
� Turn off the lights because it takes a lot of water to make electricity.
� Only put my clothes in the laundry if they are dirty.
� Ask my parents to exchange higher flow showerheads with low-flow showerheads (2 free per household while supplies last at Colorado Springs Utilities Conservation and Environmental Center, 2855 Mesa Road).
� Test my toilets for leaks. Toilet test method:
1. Add 10 drops of food color to water in the tank (the back part of the toilet).
2. Don’t flush.
3. Wait 10 minutes.
4. Look into bowl – If colored water appears in the bowl, then fix the flapper (watch this video and help your parents fix the leak: Go to YouTube.com and type in Stella fixes a leaky flapper) or get a low-flow toilet. Colorado Springs Utilities will give you $75 back if you buy a WaterSense low-flow toilet.
Signed: _______________________________________________
For more information, additional printable Water Warriors booklets, and links to other activities, visit www.csu.org and click on Residential, Community and then Kids corner. For rebate information, click on Ways to Save and then Rebates.
Please give us your feedback – [email protected].
3
Level 1: Water Detective
What Needs Water?All animals, plants and YOU need water to live. Circle what needs water.
IMAGINE how many living beings need water! Draw a living thing from your imagination below…
Page content by Bear Creek & Fountain Creek Nature Centers and Imagination Celebration.
Water Warrior
TipDid you know? Colorado Springs gets an average of 16 inches of rain and snow each year. A drought occurs when there is less precipitation than usual.
Colorado Springs is in a drought!!
We all have to share the water. If YOU use less water, then everyone will have enough.
4
Level 1: Water Detective
Water Warrior Match GameIn each row, ONE of the Water Warriors is different from the others. Can you find them all?
Match GameWalter Waterdrop needs help sorting out his friends! In each row, ONE of the water-dudes is different from the others. Can you find them all?
H2O H2O H2O H2O H2O
Source: safewaterscience.org
Page content by Colorado Springs Utilities.
5
Level 1: Water Detective
Wat
er is
hea
ted
by t
he s
un.
The
wat
er c
hang
es t
o va
por
and
rises
into
the
air.
1
As
it co
ols,
the
vap
or t
urns
into
tiny
wat
er d
ropl
ets.
The
se jo
into
geth
er in
the
sky
to
mak
e cl
ouds
.2
Whe
n th
e cl
ouds
can
't h
old
any
mor
e w
ater
, it
falls
to
the
Eart
h as
rai
n or
sno
w.
3
Som
e w
ater
run
s on
top
of
the
gro
und
and
then
into
lake
s, s
trea
ms,
riv
ers
and
ocea
ns.
4
Wat
er t
hat
goes
und
ergr
ound
is s
tore
d in
laye
rs o
f so
il an
d ro
ckkn
own
as a
n aq
uife
r.5
lake
stre
am
perc
ola
tion
perc
ola
tion
runoff
evapora
tion
pre
cipit
ati
on
For
mo
re w
ate
r fu
n,
UN
SCR
AM
BLE
the
lett
ers
in t
he la
rge
clou
d ab
ove
to fi
nd o
ut h
ow y
ou c
an h
elp
save
you
r w
ater
sup
ply.
Matc
h t
hem
up
!R
ead
ab
ou
t th
e p
arts
of
the
wat
er
cycl
e b
elo
w. T
hen
wri
te t
he
corr
ect
nu
mb
er in
th
e w
ater
dro
ps
bes
ide
the
key w
ord
s in
th
e p
ictu
re.
condensa
tion
It N
ever
En
ds!
nse
rv
eo
cn
ser
ve
oc
aqu
ifer
Water Cycle Match Up
Page content by Science Matters, courtesy of pinellascounty.org.
6
Level 1: Water Detective
How water gets to your homeColor your water system.
cloud
streams
Your Home
Water flows downstream in Fountain Creekto others who need the water too.
reservoir
Watergets
cleaned.
WastewaterTreatment
Plant
WaterTreatment
Plant
pipeline
Rocky Mountains
snow rain
Watergets
cleaned again.
pipelinepi
pelin
es
sewer lines
Did you know?Colorado Springs
doesn’t have a large river,so water is piped
from over 100 milesaway.
The average
person in Colorado Springs
uses 97 gallons of water
each day.
Page content by Colorado Springs Utilities.
7
Level 1: Water Detective
Water Warrior DecoderDecode the words below to learn about Colorado Springs’ water.
1 = A
2 = B
3 = C
4 = D
5 = E
6 = F
7 = G
8 = H
9 = I
10 = J
11 = K
12 = L
13 = M
14 = N
15 = O
16 = P
17 = Q
18 = R
19 = S
20 = T
21 = U
22 = V
23 = W
24 = X
25 = Y
26 = Z
Drinking water in ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ comes from
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ watersheds: the
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___, the
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ River, and the
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
River. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
is collected in the ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
and ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
more than 100 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ in
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ to get to
___ ___ ___ ___.
3 15 12 15 18 1 4 15
13 15 21 14 20 1 9 14 19
16 9 16 5 12 9 14 5 19
1 18 11 1 14 19 1 19
3 15 12 15 18 1 4 15
19 16 18 9 14 7 19
16 12 1 20 20 5
20 18 1 22 5 12 19
20 8 18 5 5
19 14 15 23 13 5 12 20
20 15 23 14
18 9 22 5 18
13 9 12 5 19
19 15 21 20 8
18 15 3 11 25
Page content by Colorado Springs Utilities.
8
80% of the water used in Colorado Springs comes from the Rocky Mountains and 20% comes from Pikes Peak.
Water Warrior
Tip
Level 1: Water Detective
Maze Craze
Page content by Catamount Institute.
9
Level 1: Water Detective
Page content by Friends of Cheyenne Cañon.
Follow Water’s JourneyOur fresh water comes primarily from the snowpack in the mountains. This fresh water collects and forms creeks and rivers that flow across the United States.
Where does the water flow to?
First Cheyenne Creek and other creeks flow into Colorado Springs.
Then they join Fountain Creek and go south to Pueblo.
There, the water will merge with the Arkansas River.
Look at the map below:
Follow the Arkansas River. What other rivers does it flow into before it meets the
ocean? __________________________and ___________________________
What ocean does the water from Colorado Springs eventually end in?
________________________________
10
CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS
For more information, please visit EPA’s Polluted Runoff web site
at www.epa.gov/nps
For more information, please visit EPA’s Polluted Runoff web site
at www.epa.gov/nps
1 2 3
4
8
14
20
18
1110
75
9
12
19
17
13
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6
15
Across:1) The area of land that drains into an estuary,
lake, stream, or groundwater is known as a ______.
4) The ______ of speeding boats can erode shorelines.
5) Maintaining your ______ tank will help to prevent bacteria and nutrients from leaking into groundwater and surface waters.
7) Wetland plants act like a natural water ______, removing harmful pollutants from stormwater runoff.
8) Leave your grass clippings on your ______ to reduce the need for commercial fertilizers.
9) A single quart of motor ______, if disposed of improperly, can pollute 2 million gallons of water.
10) Fertilizers and animal wastes contain ______ that “feed” algae and other aquatic plants harmful to water quality.
12) Polluted runoff from both rural and ______ sources has a significant impact on water quality.
16) Storm ______ don’t always connect to sewage treatment plants, so runoff can flow directly to rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.
18) Follow directions carefully when applying ______ on your lawn-more isn’t always better.
19) Polluted runoff (also called ______ source pollution) comes from so many places that it’s hard to “pinpoint” a source.
20) Yard and vegetable food waste are suitable additions to a ______ pile.
Choices:
compost
drains
erosion
farms
fertilizer
filter
lawn
Low
nonpoint
nutrients
oil
plant
pollution
recycle
runoff
sediment
septic
storm
drain
urban
wakes
watershed
wetlands
Down:2) Don’t dump used motor oil into storm
drains. ______ it!3) ______ of soil from barren land can
cloud nearby streams.4) ______ prevent flooding, improve water
quality, and provide habitat for waterfowl, fish, and wildlife.
5) Marking “Do Not Dump, Drains to Bay” on a ______ is one way to educate people about polluted runoff.
6) Excess sediment, nutrients. toxics, and pathogens are all types of runoff ______.
11) Polluted ______ is the nation’s #1 water quality problem.
13) The cattail is one wetland ______ that helps purify polluted runoff.
14) Too much ______ In water can harm aquatic life.
15) Proper crop and animal management on ______ helps to control water pollution.
17) ______ impact development helps control stormwater pollution through conservation approaches and techniques.
Level 1: Water Detective
Complete the stormwater runoff crossword puzzle
Page content by City of Colorado Springs.
11
Dig into Ice!Pretend you are a paleontologist on a dig – during the Ice Age.
Materials: � Flexible pan or plastic container � Small items to freeze into ice � Small hammer or mallet � Water � Freezer
Procedure:Place several small items or toys into the plastic container. Spread out so they are not touching each other. Pour enough water over them to cover completely. Place in freezer overnight or until completely frozen.
Discovery: When frozen, pop out of container. Place on hard surface. Hammer until all the items have escaped the ice!
Water Word Search
Level 1: Water Detective
P M A E R T S B G T X O B F L A K E H R W T L I D J O Q T E P A X L L L E W L A I N T T U G V P U T P F O E Y T D W C M E V S R R A I M K E S T R Z B N P O Y N N E F A S K W A N T
Find and circle these words:
STREAM WELL FILTER TREATMENT PIPES
TANK SAFE POLLUTION WATER LAKE
source: EPA.govPage content by Pikes Peak Library District.
12
Level 1: Water Detective
INVITE BIRDS TO YOUR BACKYARD!
People need water to live and so do animals. What about the wildlife that passes through or lives in your backyard? Do they have the water they need to survive?
You can provide fresh water for birds by making a bird bath and dripper out of recycled items. Here’s how!
1. Find a clean, old plastic milk or juice jug – try different styles!
2. With an adult’s help, poke one or two tiny holes in the bottom of the jug with a push pin, and one near the top for air flow.
3. Using some string, tie the container to a tree, your deck, or other appropriate spot.
4. Place a bird bath under the jug (any shallow container will do – an old metal trash can lid, a flat rock with a depression in the middle, or even an old cake pan!) to capture the water and make a pool.
5. Fill the jug with water.
6. Enjoy watching your backyard feathered friends drink and bathe in the water you provided! Write down your observations of the birds here:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Did You Know? This dripper style bird bath helps to save water and keeps mosquitoes from laying eggs in your bird bath. Every few days, be sure to scrub the bath out to keep algae from growing inside of it.
Page content by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
Water Warrior
Tip
13
Level 2: Water ExplorerGood job Water Warrior -
you made it to Level 2!
Note: You will need your parent’s help to visit locations around town or work on-line to complete this level.
Become a Water Explorer, earn a free prize AND enter our drawing to win a bike:
�� Take the Water Warrior Conservation Pledge on page 2.
�� Complete 6 or more Water Detective activities, pages 3 – 12.
�� Finish 4 or more Water Explorer adventures, pages 15 – 24; locations listed on page 29.
�� On the back of the booklet, fill in the box to the corresponding location you visited and include your contact information (this is your entry for the bike drawing).
Bring your Water Warriors booklet to one of the locations listed below to get your prize. Your FREE prize is the choice of a water bottle or shower timer. Be sure to turn in the completed, back page of your booklet to enter the drawing to win a bicycle! (Bicycle donated by Kids on Bikes.)
o Colorado Springs Utilities Conservation & Environmental Center (M-F 9am-5pm).
o Penrose Library Branch (M-Th 9am-9pm, F-Sat 10am-6pm).
o East Library Branch (M-Th 9am-9pm, F-Sat 10am-6pm).
Water Warrior challenge deadline is AUGUST 16, 2013 to collect prizes and be entered into the drawing. Drawing winners will be announced on September 7, 2013 at the What IF Festival (www.WhatIF-Festival.org). Need not be present to win.
14
Answer Key to Level 1: Water Detective pages
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9What other rivers does the Arkansas River flow into before it meets the ocean? Canadian and Mississippi rivers. What ocean does water from Colorado Springs eventually end in? The Atlantic Ocean via the Gulf of Mexico.
Page 10
Page 11
Match GameWalter Waterdrop needs help sorting out his friends! In each row, ONE of the water-dudes is different from the others. Can you find them all?
H2O H2O H2O H2O H2O
Hey Gang! If you enjoyed this activity book, visit www.pinellascounty.org/utilities/kids for more fun games.
Maze Craze (page 2)Sudoku (page 8)
1 evaporation
2 condensation
3 precipitation
4 runoff
5 percolation
Water Cycle (page 4)
Water drop search (page 1)
The total number of
is 16
Word Search (page 6)
R J V A P O R Z C Q O Y F H F V K R
W X Z R D B D I L L Z Y I Y P A O T
A P B C W E V A O A S U N D E K O Q
T I U M E K D Q U E X P R R R E B V
E P R G P U N U D U B P O O C T Y U
R B W E R J V I S C X G S L O Z G C
H B A Q E L H F B O L B G O L A K E
X Z T G C U W E A N U K S G A P S B
M U E W I I K R T D R N J I T Z D R
T Q R H P M L O R E Z I R C I L W U
C I S G I C E P R N D W V C O W E N
X C H S T R E A M S M Y Z Y N O O O
Q Z E N A W I M E A Z B J C Q C G F
Z F D F T K D O B T N A A L A E I F
S N O W I S P J J I J B W E I A Y Q
H B O X O E V A P O R A T I O N B Z
G R A I N V B B P N A W M A W Y Z C
C Q E Y C P V L C O N S E R V E K S
Answer Key for Wet Gazette: The Sequel
Unscrambled word: CONSERVE
Drinking water in Colorado Springs comes from three watersheds: the Colorado River, the Arkansas River, and the South Platte River. Snowmelt is collected in the Rocky Mountains and travels more than 100 miles in pipelines to get to town.
12 3
4
8
14
20
18
1110
75
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12
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16
6
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P M A E R T S B G T X O B F L A K E H R W T L I D J O Q T E P A X L L L E W L A I N T T U G V P U T P F O E Y T D W C M E V S R R A I M K E S T R Z B N P O Y N N E F A S K W A N T
w a t e r s h e dw a v e s
s e p t i c
o i l
d r a i n s
n o n p o i n t
c o m p o s t
f e r t i l i z e r
n u t r i e n t s
l a w nf i l t e rt
rmd
ain
o
lut
o
ecy
le
l
w
ros
o
plan
fa
ms
unof
et
a
ds s
ed
men
r b a n
15
Did you know? Nearly half of our water is used outside in our yards? The Xeriscape Demonstration Garden features plants adapted to our dry climate. Xeric plants are beautiful, easy to take care of and will reduce your outdoor water use by 25-50%.
Level 2: Water Explorer
Go on a Scavenger Hunt in the Xeriscape Garden!
Where: Map location #1 (see page 29) Colorado Springs Utilities Xeriscape Demonstration Garden at the Conservation & Environmental Center. The garden is always open to the public.
What you will need: a pencil and a water bottle.
Pick up a Xeriscape Demonstration Garden Walking Tour Map & Guide by the front doors.
Step 1: Find the Bronze Fennel in the herb garden located in the moderate
water zone. Without picking it, rub a leaf between your fingers.
What does it smell like? ______________________________
Step 2: Find a Yucca Plant in the very low water zone. Drip
some water on the tips of the leaves. What happens, and why?
_________________________________________________
Step 3: Find a plant with soft, fuzzy leaves. Write down its
name. ____________________________________________
Why do you think this plant has fuzzy leaves? _____________
_________________________________________________
Step 4: Look for a box near the solar powered waterfall. Take one sticker from the box and place it on the back of your Water Warriors booklet next to the Colorado Springs Utilities logo.
Mak
e every drop count
Water Warrior
Tip
An adaption is something
a plant or animal has developed
to help them survive.
Answers: 1. Licorice 2. The leaves funnel water to the base of the plant and directly to the roots. 3. Plants adapt fuzzy leaves to reduce water loss through the leaf surface.
Page content by Colorado Springs Utilities.
16
Level 2: Water Explorer
Find Your Creek!
Did You Know? Storm water is rain or snow that falls on streets, roofs and other hard surfaces that flows into our creeks without being treated.
On your next walk, bike ride, or car ride, look for the creek
signs throughout our city!
We all have waterfront property, because the water leaving your home eventually drains into a creek. There are 37 creeks in Colorado Springs. Do you know the name of the creek closest to your house? Use a computer to figure it out!
Step 1: Go to: www.springsgov.com/stormwatermaps
Step 2: Click on Drainage Basins of Colorado Springs, showing our creeks and basins.
Step 3: Use the map to locate your home and the closest creek. Write the creek’s name next to the City of Colorado Springs logo on the back of this booklet.
The creek closest to my house is: ____________________________________.
Two other creeks close to my house are named: _________________________.
and _______________________________ creeks.
This is a storm drain, also known as a catch basin.
Storm water flows from your house, onto the street, into these drains, and directly into creeks and ditches! This water never gets cleaned, which makes our water dirty.
Find a catch basin in your neighborhood. What else do you see going into the
storm drains when it rains, besides rainwater? ___________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
This summer, keep our water clean by cleaning up trash, pet waste, grass clippings, leaves, and debris so it doesn’t end up in storm drains!
Water Warrior
Tip
Page content by City of Colorado Springs.
17
Level 2: Water Explorer
Be a Zookeeper Assistant!Where: Map location #2 (see page 29) Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Step 1: All animals depend on water, but some animals are specially adapted to live in or around water all the time. While walking around the Zoo, find the animals pictured below and watch them closely. What are 3 adaptations each of them have that makes them well equipped for an aquatic life?
Aquatic Adaptations
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
Step 2: Animals need water every day just like we do. While at the Zoo, visit the Loft Exploration Center. Ask the keeper if you can help change the water in an animal’s exhibit. When you’re done, answer the following questions about the animals in the Loft.
Do the amphibians get the same type of water as the reptiles? ______________
Why or why not? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Step 3: Have the zookeeper check you answers and stamp the back page of your Water Warriors booklet.
River Otter
Beaver
Nile Hippopotamus
An adaptation is something
a plant or animal has developed
to help them survive.
Page content by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
18
Design a 3-d environment!Where: Map location #3 (see page 29) Imagination Celebration iSpace at the Citadel Mall (upper level near Burlington’s).
Step 1: Design a three dimensional environment for an IMAGINARY ORGANISM to make and take home.
Step 2: Use your IMAGINATION to come up with brand new ideas for saving water at your house. Add them to our water innovations exhibit panel.
Level 2: Water Explorer
Do you know what a water footprint is? Look this up and find out your score at
www.environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/change-the-course/
water-footprint-calculator/
My water footprint is___________
All living things need water to survive.
Humans can only live 3 days without water.
Step 3: After you have finished making your 3-D environment, have an iSpace staff member or volunteer stamp your Water Warriors booklet.
Page content by Imagination Celebration.
19
Go on a streamside scavenger hunt!
Where: Map location #4 (see page 29) Catamount Institute at Sondermann Park
What you will need: A marker to ink the stamp.
The creek at Sondermann Park helps water an historic orchard. Follow the clues below to visit the tasty fruit trees that grow here and find your stamp.
Step 1: From the parking lot offices, head west toward the creek. Cross a bridge as soon as you find it.
Step 2: Head north toward the Lilacs. Follow the trail marker that shares this flower’s name.
Step 3: Look for old wood & dirt stairs that descend to the east. The big tree at the bottom of the stairs will help you know you are on the right path. Hop across the creek here because there is no bridge!
Step 4: Journey up-stream on a narrow deer path until you arrive at the old beaver home. They need water to keep themselves safe from predators.
Step 5: Join a larger trail as you go on up stream and away from the creek. Soon you will find wild fruit trees in a meadow with their trunks wrapped in cages.
Step 6: The clump of trees (surrounded by a cage) furthest from the trail and furthest upstream is your destination. Find a stamp hidden in a box, under a rock, just outside the cage. Use your marker to ink the stamp.The stamp will tell you what kind of fruit grows on this tree!
It is ____________________________________________________!
Step 7: Stamp the back of your Water Warriors booklet to prove you were here.
Step 8: LEAVE THE STAMP IN THE BOX & RE-HIDE! If you can’t find the box or stamp, ask Catamount Institute Staff for help.
Level 2: Water Explorer
Pick up after your pet so their waste doesn’t get into our streams.Water
Warrior Tip
Page content by Catamount Institute.
20
Be a Nature Detective!Where: Map locations #5 and/or #6 (see page 29) Bear Creek and Fountain Creek Nature Centers
Step 1: Be a nature detective and discover the natural world. As you find the items below, color in the water drop.
A bug on the ground Nest of sticks or leaves
A beaver chewed tree A plant that looks like a hot dog on a stick
Animal tracks or scat A hole in a tree–who made it?_________________
Step 2: Take a hike on the nature trails at Bear Creek Nature Center and discover the three habitats of the area. You will walk through the riparian area (rich with water), scrub oak forest, and meadow habitats. Draw what you see in each habitat. Notice the size of the plants in each.
Riparian Scrub Oak Forest Meadow
Some plants are very small while others are very big. Why do you think they are
different sizes? ___________________________________________________
AND/ORStep 3: Visit Fountain Creek Nature Center and take a hike along the wetlands.
Draw what you see.
Was a turtle sunning itself on a log? ___________________________________
Step 4: Come inside the Nature Center and have the staff stamp your Water Warriors booklet.
Level 2: Water Explorer
Don’t be a litterbug! Pick up trash when you see it to help keep our water clean.Water
Warrior Tip
Page content by Bear Creek & Fountain Creek Nature Centers.
21
Level 2: Water Explorer
Do an “I-Spy” HuntWhere: Map location #7 (see page 29) Garden of the Gods Park
Water is a rare resource inside the Garden of the Gods. You will not see any lakes, ponds or flowing water, but the effects of water can be seen all over.
Step 1: Stop at the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center and get a free park map.
Step 2: Follow the Perkins Central Garden Trail. How many things can you find from the list below:
____1. Water fountain. Thirsty? Water is brought into the Park through pipes buried deep underground for use in water fountains and restrooms.
____2. Kissing Camels. Water and other elements like wind have shaped the sandstone rocks to look like two camels kissing. This process is known as erosion. Some people think it will bring you good luck to blow a kiss to the Camels.
____3. Holes in the rocks. When water soaks into the rocks and then freezes, it expands and causes more erosion (ice wedging). Over time, this erosion can form holes in the rocks that provide good habitat for wildlife.
____4. Culverts. Culverts are large pipes used to carry water under trails, bridges or roads. If we didn’t use culverts, water would erode away our trails.
____5. Stone ripples. Water was more common in this area a long time ago. Thousands of years ago, water made ripple marks that turned to stone and can be seen on Sentinel Spires today.
____6. Yucca plant. This plant has adapted to live in dry environments. Its green, dagger-shaped leaves protect the plant while catching and funneling precious water to its center and roots.
____7. Water stains. When it rains or snow melts, water can run down the side of the tall rocks staining them with a lighter color shade. This is a clue to the start of more erosion.
Step 3: Find the large dedication plaque on South Gateway Rock. Write the year the park was donated to the City of Colorado Springs on the back of your Water Warriors booklet.
Page content by Friends of Garden of the Gods.
22
Reveal the Secrets of a Ponderosa Pine
Where: Map location #8 (see page 29) North Cheyenne Cañon Park
Step 1: Use the drawing below and the giant tree cookie at Helen Hunt Falls Visitor Center, 3440 North Cheyenne Cañon Road, to answer the questions.
CIRCLE YOUR ANSWER
1. Narrow tree rings indicate what?
tapping of sap drought conditions animal activity
2. The scar tells us the tree lived through what type of natural disaster?
flood forest fire drought
3. What actually killed this tree?
fungus forest fire erosion
Question 1
Question 2
Question 3
Level 2: Water Explorer
Step 2: Take a walk at Starsmore Discovery Center. Investigate the tracks of the pine beetle on the fallen Ponderosa pine tree in the clearing behind Starsmore. (Look next to the creek!) Describe what they look like:
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Step 3: Ask any staff member or volunteer to check your answers and have them stamp your Water Warriors booklet.
Page content by North Cheyenne Cañon Park City Staff.
1. Drought conditions effect width of tree rings (narrow) and indicates a low growth year.
2. Successive years of little rainfall or drought make trees susceptible to fire.
3. Trees weakened by years of drought can be infested by pine beetles which carry blue fungus.
23
Level 2: Water Explorer
Be a Water Scientist!The earth has a limited amount of water. That water keeps going around and around and around (well, you get the idea) in what we call the “Water Cycle.” There are four main parts of the cycle: Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation and Collection.
Step 1: Try this experiment on evaporation.
You will need: Three clear containers, water, masking tape, markers, ruler, 3 different locations.
Procedure:1. Fill each container with ONE cup of water. 2. Tape the masking tape on the container at the top of the water line and
write the date and time on the masking tape. 3. Place each container of water in a different location. Locations could be in
a sunny window, on a table outside, under a tree or in a closet. 4. After each day, measure the amount of water remaining in the container
and record it on the chart below.
Prediction: I think the container located ___________________ will evaporate
more water because _______________________________________________ .
Evaporation Experiment Data Chart
Container Location 1st Day (oz.) 2nd Day (oz.) 3rd Day (oz.)
1
2
3
What I learned: __________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Step 2: Get your Water Warriors booklet code. 1. Log on to www.sciencematters.tv.2. Select “Experiment of the Month.”3. Send the name of the experiment of the month in an email to contest@
sciencematters.tv.4. You will receive an email response with the special code. Write the code
on the back of your Water Warriors booklet to complete this activity.
Evaporation is the process by which water is converted from its liquid form to its vapor form and transferred to the atmosphere. Only water your yard before 10am or after 6pm to reduce water evaporation.
Water Warrior
Tip
Page content by Science Matters.
24
Level 2: Water Explorer
Dig Into Drought!Where: Map locations L1 through L7 (see page 29) Your Local Library
Step 1: Check out a book about water or drought at your local library
Step 2: Attend a free water program at a PPLD location.
• Where does the water go during a drought? • Help make a cloud in a bottle and play with
our water system display! • Learn about xeric plants and plant your own
flower seeds. Come to this Colorado Springs Utilities program at the library and we’ll teach you ways to save water too! This program is sure to make you water wise and a little dirty as you Dig into Drought! Best for ages 4 and up.
Dates and Times:
• Friday,June21,bookmobilestop,CanterburyMobileHomePark, 2:30 – 3:15 p.m. (map location L6)
• Tuesday,June25,bookmobilestop,PringRanchPark,2:45–3:30p.m.(map location L7)
• Friday,June28,RockrimmonLibrary,10:30a.m.(maplocationL3)
• Friday,July5,PenroseLibrary,10:30a.m.(maplocationL2)
• Wednesday,July10,SandCreekLibrary,10:30a.m.(maplocationL5)
• Thursday,July18,EastLibrary,10:30a.m.(maplocationL1)
• Tuesday,July23,RuthHolleyLibrary,10:30a.m.(maplocationL4)
Join us on Friday, July 26 at the East Library for our free Summer Reading Party
from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Step 3: Bring your Water Warriors booklet to a librarian when you check out a book and have them stamp the back page.
A drought is a time of abnormally dry
weather.
Page content by Pikes Peak Library District.
25
Level 3: Water EngineerGreat job Water Warrior -
you made it to Level 3!
Become a Water Engineer, earn a free prize AND compete to win a Kindle:
�� Take the Water Warrior Conservation Pledge on page 2.
�� Complete activities and questions on pages 26 – 28.
�� Design, test and build a low-flow showerhead prototype.
Bring your showerhead prototype to one of the locations (see map on page 29) listed below to get your free prize—a WaterSense® low-flow showerhead. The Water Engineer who creates the best prototype will win a Kindle!
o Colorado Springs Utilities Conservation & Environmental Center (M-F 9am-5pm).
o Penrose Library Branch (M-Th 9am-9pm, F-Sat 10am-6pm).
o East Library Branch (M-Th 9am-9pm, F-Sat 10am-6pm).
NOTE: Please clearly label your prototype entry with your contact information.
Water Warrior challenge deadline is AUGUST 16, 2013 to collect prizes and enter the Water Engineer competition. Colorado Springs Utilities will select the best showerhead prototype to receive the grand prize, a Kindle. The winner will be announced on September 7, 2013 at the What IF Festival (www.WhatIF-Festival.org). Need not be present to win.
26
Design your own low-flow showerhead
Clean is good...but how can you get clean and save our water resources? Some facts about water usage from the EPA:
How much water do we use?
Earth may be known as the “water planet,” but even though about 70% of its surface is covered
by water, less than 1% is available for human use. Water supplies are finite and we can all help protect this critical and precious resource.
Americans use large quantities of water inside their homes. The average family of four can use 400 gallons of water every day.
The bathroom is the largest consumer of indoor water. The toilet alone can
use 14% of household water.
Engineering ChallengeUse the engineering design process to create a showerhead that will save on water but still rinse off the soap!
Step 1: Ask! How can I design a showerhead that uses the least amount of water but still gets me clean?
Step 2: Imagine! Sketch some ideas and discuss with friends or family members. Some questions to ponder:
• What is the effect of hole size in a showerhead on water usage?
• What is the effect of the number of holes on water usage?
• What other sizes, types, and shapes of showerheads have already been invented?
Shower/ Bath12%
Clothes Washer
14%
Faucets10%
Dishwasher1%
Leaks/ Other
7%Toilets14%
Landscape42%
Level 3: Water Engineer
Reduce your indoor water use by taking a 5 minute shower, and flushing only when necessary. Try following “If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down.”
Water Warrior
Tip
The engineering design process is the formulation of a plan to help
an engineer build a product with a specified
performance goal.
(continued on next page)
27
Level 3: Water Engineer (continued)
(continued on next page)
Sketch of Prototype
Steps for Creating1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Will paper
cups work? Why or why
not?
Step 3: Plan! What do I need to build and test?
Suggested Materials
6 clear plastic drinking cups 6 small plastic bowl 6 push pins (to make holes) 6 water and a basin to catch water 6 stopwatch or timer 6 towels for wiping spills 6 permanent marker 6 pencil/paper for notetaking and gathering data
What other materials might you need?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Testing Suggestions
6 Test hole sizes first; do they make a difference? How much of a difference?
6 Test number of holes; what do you observe?
6 What other kinds of data should you gather? Other tests?
28
Level 3: Water Engineer(continued)
Step 4: Create! Using your data, design and build a model showerhead that you think will be efficient. Test it! Record your data and test again! What did you find out?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Step 5: Improve! Can you improve on your design? Build another model and test it. Were your results better?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Step 6: Bring your model showerhead to Colorado Springs Utilities (map location #1), East Library (map location #L1) or Penrose Library (map location #L2) to get a free, low-flow showerhead and compete to win a Kindle.
Page content by elemSTEMary.
29
Water Warrior map locationsP
owers B
lvd.
Vindicator
Fillmore
Garden of the Gods Road
Cascade
21st S
t.
30th S
treet
Mesa
Cheyenne Blvd.Chelton
Galley
Mesa Ridge
Rockrimmon
Briargate Parkway
Academy B
lvd.
Uintah
115
1 Xeriscape Demonstration Gardenat the Conservation & Environmental Center, 2855 Mesa Rd. (719) 448-4800
2 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd. (719) 633-9925
3 Imagination Celebration Citadel Mall (719) 387-9015
4 Catamount Institute at Sondermann Park740 W Caramillo St.(719) 471-0910
5 Bear Creek Nature Center245 Bear Creek Rd.(719) 520-6387
6 Fountain Creek Nature Center320 Pepper Grass Ln., Fountain(719) 520-6745
7 Garden of the Gods Park 1805 N. 30th St. (719) 634-6666
8 North Cheyenne Cañon Park 2120 S. Cheyenne Cañon Rd.(719) 385-6086
Library BranchesL1 East Library5550 N. Union Blvd.(719) 531-6333
L2 Penrose Library20 N. Cascade Ave.(719) 531-6333
L3 Rockrimmon Library832 Village Center Dr.(719) 593-8000
L4 Ruth Holley Library685 North Murray Blvd.(719) 597-5377
L5 Sand Creek Library1821 South Academy Blvd.(719) 597-7070
Map not to scale
L6 Bookmobile Stop, Canterbury Mobile Home Park3020 South Powers Blvd.(719) 531-6333
L7 Bookmobile Stop, Pring Ranch ParkTutt Blvd. and Brindle Spur Ave.(719) 531-6333
N
L3
1
L1
L2 3 L4
L7
L5
L6
4
5
2
8
6
7
Water Warriors Checklist
Name ___________________________________ Phone __________________
Email ___________________________________________________________