Community Education

A key aspect of the H2O Chelsea project are our education initiatives that are geared towards promoting community stewardship of Chelsea's water resources. Our aim is to provide water conservation information to help residents of Chelsea do their part in protecting the high level of water quality and quantity that we currently enjoy. Further, our hope is that as residents become more aware of water conservation issues, we will not only see better water practices at home but also increased public support for conservation measures such as lawn-watering restrictions and shoreline vegetation zones.

Our education initiatives are numerous and include:

water kits to be sent to every business and household in Chelsea
water conservation curriculum for elementary schools
presentations of H2O Chelsea sampling results
information booths at local events
news updates in municipal and local newspapers

These initiatives are on-going and take place at locations throughout the community. Please visit the What's New section on the homepage of this website, or sign-up for our Free e-newsletter to get updates regarding upcoming H2O Chelsea lectures, presentations of results, news stories and local events.

Water Kits

Thanks to our funding from the Fonds d'action québécois pour le développement durable ($150,000 for 2004-2005), we will be producing 'Water Kits' that will be sent to every business and household in Chelsea. The kits will contain booklets, fridge magnets and existing government documents that effectively convey 'best practices' for households that rely on wells and septic systems. Key themes include: ways to limit water use, 'septic-safe' cleaning products and septic system maintenance.

The kits are currently under development and will be sent to residents in May, 2005.

Water Curriculum for Schools

An exciting component of our education activities is our water curriculum project. The idea of a water-themed interdisciplinary curriculum (science, history, geography etc.) was first developed by teachers at Chelsea Elementary Public School and has been operating successfully for several years. The project involves the collaborative work of all students and teachers in grade five and six. With the assistance of their teachers, the students develop their own water-themed play that is presented to parents and community members.

Last year's theme was 'Wetlands' and involved a full-scale production that touched on the scientific, spiritual and historical features of Chelsea's wetlands. An amazing collaborative accomplishment, the students research, write and direct the presentation, as well as take care of the design and construction of the sets and costumes. Congratulations to everyone who has worked on these impressive presentations!

We look forward to hearing from educators and students who are interested in making use of the package in their school!

Lecture Series

H2O Chelsea, through the work of Action Chelsea for the Respect of the Environment (ACRE) has organized several water-themed lectures that aim to provide residents with scientific and 'hands on' information from local and visiting experts. Thank you to all attendees and presenters who have made these evenings a great success!

Please visit the ACRE website to find out about upcoming events and lectures.

Past water-themed lectures include:

Restoration of the Gatineau shoreline at the Alonzo Wright Rapids (April 2004) by Steven Uriarte and Jim Douglas
Giving Rivers an Edge: Lessons from the Carp River (April 2004) by David Spence
Waterworks: A Chelsea Initiative (March 2003) by Dr. Scott Findlay
Amphibians in Crisis (May 2002) by Scott Findlay
The Mysterious Life of the Gatineau River Fish (February 2001) by François Chapleau
Science of the Swamps: Wetland Conservation in Chelsea (January 2001) by Dr. Scott Findlay

Do you have an idea for a presentation? Do you know of someone who would be interested in presenting on the topic of water-resources. If so, please contact us so that we can discuss. We are always looking for new lecturers and topics to round out our water-conservation lectures!

Presentations of Results

Communicating the results of our research and monitoring activities is an important step in keeping our volunteers and Chelsea residents updated and motivated about the project's activities. These events not only provide residents with the project's scientific findings but also the opportunity to learn about the specifics of our sampling activities and opportunities to get involved in the project.

Recent H2O Chelsea 'Presentations of Results' include:

Results of the 2003 Season, by Dr. Scott Findlay and Dr. Antoine Morin of the University of Ottawa. March 22, 2004 (United Nations World Water Day Fair).
Beamish Lake and Hayworth Creek Results for 2003-2004, by Dr. Scott Findlay of the University of Ottawa. October 2nd, 2004.

Community Events

Sometimes you have to hit the street to spread the word...! H2O Chelsea recognizes the importance of maintaining a public presence in the community and have made sure to be present at all of Chelsea's important local events. Our information booths provide pamphlets and posters on water-conservation and are supervised by informed volunteers who can assist you in learning more about the project and ways that you can reduce your household's impact on the environment.

We look forward to receiving our professional quality display (currently under development) that will join us at these events and will rotate through Chelsea's libraries and community centres throughout the year. Look for it in early 2005!

Local events that H2O Chelsea has recently attended or organized:

Chelsea Day (June, 2004)
Earth Day Celebrations in Chelsea (April, 2003 and April, 2004)
ACRE Volunteer Night (January, 2004)
United Nations World Water Day (March, 2004)
Chelsea Bazaar (December, 2003)