Lisle scout earns Eagle Badge with stenciling project to protect local waterways
Jacob Anderson stands with a clipboard going over the routes for his team before they head out to stencil neighborhood drains to discourage dumping of unwanted materials such as motor oil, paint, or cleaning chemicals.
The Conservation Foundation offers the storm drain stenciling program to remind people that what goes into storm drains ends up polluting local waterways, affecting fish and wildlife and the source for drinking water.
It was just the type of program 12-year old Jacob, a seventh grader at Lisle Junior High School, was looking for as his Eagle Scout Service Project.
"Part of our outdoor code is conservation-minded, so I figured why not do something to help our waterways?" Jacob said.
With the help of 12 other scouts and parents and grandparents, Jacob obtained drain locations on maps, safety vests, and street cones from the Village of Lisle and formed four teams to stencil 100 drains.
The Conservation Foundation provides paint guns, stencils, and paint for the program, which is sponsored by DuPage County Stormwater Management.
"People sometimes don't realize that we all live in a watershed," Jan Roehll, DuPage County program director for The Conservation Foundation, said. "What goes into our neighborhood drains ends up in local rivers and streams. The stenciling program is a great way to get communities involved in protecting our water resources."
It took about four hours on a chilly October Saturday afternoon to finish the project.
"I feel it went pretty good," Jacob said.
Anyone interested in finding out about the storm drain stenciling program can call (630) 428-4500, ext. 121, or email jroehll@theconservationfoundation.org.
The Conservation Foundation is one of the region's largest and oldest private conservation organizations, with more than 4,000 members and donors, and more than 500 volunteers who contribute 20,000 hours per year.
Work is focused in DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties to preserve and restore nature in your neighborhood. Find out more at theconservationfoundation.org.