Arlene Meraux Elementary has launched an Adopt a Drain program in which students conduct routine cleanups, collect and categorize debris, and log their findings using digital data-collection tools.
Third-grade teacher Christina Crego, who recently participated in the Mississippi River Delta Institute, leads the program. The institute equipped her with a storm drain stewardship kit and the training needed to implement hands-on environmental projects with her students.
Their focus is on maintaining the storm drain areas surrounding the school’s parking lot, helping prevent litter and debris from entering local waterways. The information students compile is submitted to the institute, helping researchers to monitor environmental trends across the region.
This initiative not only supports local environmental health but also gives students a chance to engage in learning that connects classroom lessons in science and social responsibility to real-world action.
Crego recently was named the districtwide elementary teacher of the year for St. Bernard Parish Public Schools.
“Adopting our school’s storm drain has given my students the chance to learn by doing,” said Crego. “When children see the impact of their efforts right outside their classroom, it turns science into something real, meaningful and empowering.”
The Mississippi River Delta Institute, run by Hamline University’s Center for Global Environmental Education (CGEE) and hosted locally each summer at Docville Farm through the support of the Arlene Meraux Foundation, brings educators together to explore the region’s unique coastal ecosystems and develop classroom-ready environmental projects.