Stormwater Summer Camp! 

Summertime never gets old. Now that school is out, it’s time to gear up for stormwater summer camp! We’ve put together some fun and educational activities for kids to prevent stormwater pollution around your home. Here in Orange County, we value clean and healthy water in our rivers, wetlands, and ocean, so it’s important for kids of all ages to be mindful of everyday things we do that contribute to stormwater pollution. Keep reading for ideas on kid-friendly learning resources and activities to protect our local waterways and be stormwater-smart!

WHAT IS STORMWATER POLLUTION?

First, let’s talk about stormwater pollution. Many items around your home, such as pet waste, yard debris, paint, and various types of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), can contribute to stormwater pollution when picked up by runoff from rain and outdoor water use. In Orange County, polluted runoff enters our storm drain system where it flows untreated to the ocean, which can have harmful effects on our local waterways, ocean, and wildlife.

BEAT THE HEAT WITH THESE INDOOR STORMWATER SUMMER CAMP ACTIVITIES AND LEARNING RESOURCES

• Learn Runoff 101 – Get your older kids (age 10 and above) up to speed on the basics of stormwater runoff, common pollutants and their impact on our local waterways and ocean. Check out our Common Pollutants and Runoff 101 webpages to see how to prevent stormwater pollution.

• Indoor Play the Stormwater Way – Set up some stormwater-smart playtime where kids can engage in fun-filled, education-packed resources to learn more about stormwater pollution and its effect on our local environment.

  • Check out our Watershed Activity Booklet and Discovery Cube’s Activity and Education Guide which contain stormwater pollution prevention tips, activities, and quizzes for kids aged 5-10. You can even put your kids to the stormwater-smart test through an environmental challenge!

  • Visit the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Water Education page which includes water cycle and conservation activities, quizzes and games for children aged 5-10.

  • Teach your kids aged 7 and up about recycling and the role it plays in preventing stormwater pollution through the EPA’s online Recycle City games and OC’s Waste & Recycling Guide.

PUT YOUR NEW STORMWATER KNOWLEDGE INTO ACTION WITH THESE OUTDOOR STORMWATER SUMMER CAMP ACTIVITIES

• Watch for Water Waste – Run your system and have your kids identify broken sprinkler heads, leaks, or misaligned sprinklers. All of these lead to runoff and should be fixed.

• Get Your Field Crew in Gear – Involve your kids with yard care and teach them the importance of cleaning up yard debris and pet waste. Sweeping up yard debris and picking up dog waste are two easy ways to help keep our waterways clean. For more information on how managing animal waste can help prevent stormwater pollution, visit our Animal Care page.

  • For extra fun: Put your older kids (age 10 and up) on ‘poop patrol’ or ‘doody duty.’ Kids can earn stickers for identifying pet waste, picking it up and disposing it properly in the trash. Stickers can be redeemed for a special privilege or a toy!

• Two (or more) Green Thumbs Are Better Than One! – Keep your kids active by letting them help with gardening activities. Guide them in picking out plants that are adapted to local growing conditions and require fewer chemical inputs to thrive. If you can’t get out to purchase plants, consider grouping existing plants according to their watering needs. For more information, check out South Coast Water District’s Water Smart Gardening page.

Feel even better about the role your kids have played through stormwater summer camp activities by inspiring other OC residents to do the same. Visit our Overwatering is Out page to share how your kids’ actions this summer are helping to protect our local waterways. There you can also get inspired to see what other OC residents are doing and find even more information on stormwater-smart actions!