Upper St. Clair students create rain barrel for Outdoor Classroom
The Upper St. Clair High School Environmental Club recently participated in Barrels by the Bay’s Allegheny County Three Rivers project.
students Ethan Bowman, Devon Garcia, Perry Jackson, Riley Kelly and Cassidy Turner painted a reused Coca-Cola syrup barrel that will serve as a rain barrel, which will be used at The Outdoor Classroom gardens at Boyce Mayview Park.
The Three Rivers Project provided the rain barrels and all of the painting supplies, educational materials, teaching tools and installation materials needed for the project at no cost.
Janine Despines, high school librarian and Environmental Club sponsor, led the Upper St. Clair project. Boyce Middle School’s Green Team also participated.
Participants had the opportunity to learn more about Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers and how storm water runoff concerns can be minimized through rain barrels.
Barrels by the Bay is a nonprofit organization founded by Megan Rosenberger, a native of Natrona Heights, who is studying at the U.S. Naval Academy. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to educate students about the world’s water resources.
“The Barrels by the Bay team is excited to bring our program to Allegheny County,” Rosenberger said. “We hope to inspire the next generation of environmental proponents throughout the program and to provide something unique to the local infrastructure.”
The Barrels by the Bay Three Rivers project is sponsored by PPG Industries, Coca-Cola, EarthEcho International and individual supporters. For more information, visit www.barrelsbythebay.org.