Water Warriors Activity Booklet - Colorado Springs … Colorado Springs is in a drought. We all need water and conserving it is more important than ever! The Water Warriors booklet

Win a bike

or kINDLE!

Water Warrior Name: ______________________________________________

A Water Activity Booklet brought to you by:

Cool

Prizes!

AcknowledgmentsColorado Springs is in a drought. We all need water and conserving it is more important than ever! The Water Warriors booklet is brought to you by the following partner organizations:

Bear Creek & Fountain Creek Nature Centers – part of the El Paso County Parks system, these nationally recognized nature centers provide nature and cultural programs, trails, and facilities for all interests and ages.

Catamount Institute – a non-profit organization providing environmental science education and sustainability programs with the mission to inspire ecological stewardship from school rooms to board rooms.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – located in the foothills, the zoo has over 550 animals from all over the world to connect people with wildlife and wild places through experiences that inspire action.

City of Colorado Springs Stormwater Engineering Section – provides community education on managing stormwater runoff to protect water quality, people and property in Colorado Springs and in communities downstream.

Colorado Springs Utilities – a community-owned utility providing water, wastewater, electric and natural gas services since 1925 with the mission to serve and connect its customers.

eleSTEMary – a Pikes Peak Regional Network for Elementary STEM Educators that promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education awareness among elementary educators.

Friends of Cheyenne Cañon – a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and enhancing the natural, scenic and historic resources of North Cheyenne Cañon Park.

Friends of the Garden of the Gods – a non-profit volunteer organization with the mission to help the City of Colorado Springs preserve, protect and promote Garden of the Gods Park by helping maintain it, and educating citizens and youth.

Imagination Celebration – a non-profit organization that has been serving the Pikes Peak region for 25 years by connecting people of all ages through the life-enhancing power of creativity.

Kids on Bikes – an organization with the mission to inspire and empower kids to lead healthy, active and happy lives through biking.

Pikes Peak Library District – a free public library system since 1903 providing resources and opportunities that change individual lives and build community.

Science Matters in America – promoting hands-on science learning for elementary students through after-school clubs, summer camps, birthday parties, assemblies and family science events.

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Earn cool

prizes from the

Treasure Box

Get a water

bottle or shower

timer and enter

to win a bike

Receive a low-flow

showerhead and

compete to win a

Kindle.

Are YOU up for the Water Warrior challenge?

How to use this booklet:

Become a Water Warrior: Water Detective is for beginners and designed to complete at home. Water Explorer is an intermediate level that requires activities around town or on-line searches. Water Engineer is an advanced level where you design a showerhead.

Level 1: WATER DETECTIVE (activities at home)

Take the Water Warrior Conservation Pledge on page 2 AND complete at least 6 activities in the Level 1: Water Detective section of this booklet (see pages 3-12). Water Detectives choose

cool prizes from the Treasure Box at one of the locations listed below. (Answer key located on page 14.)

Level 2: WATER EXPLORER (visits around town)Take the Water Warrior Conservation Pledge on page 2,

complete Level 1 requirements AND do 4 or more Level 2: Water Explorer adventures (see pages 15-24 and map on

page 29). Bring your completed booklet to one of the locations listed below to receive a water bottle or shower timer and enter the

drawing to win a bicycle (thanks to Kids on Bikes). One entry per person.

Level 3: WATER ENGINEER (showerhead design)

Take the Water Warrior Conservation Pledge on page 2, AND submit your showerhead prototype (pages 26-28). Water Engineers, bring your prototype to one of the locations

listed below to receive your free, low-flow showerhead. The best prototype entry will win a Kindle. One entry per person.

Treasure Box, Prize and Drawing/Entry Locations (see map on page 29):

Ø Colorado Springs Utilities Conservation and Environmental Center (M-F 9am-5pm).

Ø Penrose Library Branch (M-Th 9am-9pm, F-Sat 10am-6pm).

Ø East Library Branch (M-Th 9am-9pm, F-Sat 10am-6pm).

Water Warrior challenge deadline is AUGUST 16, 2013 to collect prizes, enter drawing or submit entry. Winners will be announced on September 7, 2013 at the What IF Festival (www.WhatIF-Festival.org). Need not be present to win.

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Water Warrior Conservation Pledge

Water needs your help. How will you conserve water?

As a friend of water, I pledge to:(check all that you can do)

� Shorten my shower time to only 5 minutes.

� Fill the bathtub only half full when I take a bath.

� Turn off the water while brushing my teeth.

� Scrape instead of rinse my dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.

� Keep a pitcher of cold water to drink in the fridge instead of running the faucet.

� Turn off the lights because it takes a lot of water to make electricity.

� Only put my clothes in the laundry if they are dirty.

� Ask my parents to exchange higher flow showerheads with low-flow showerheads (2 free per household while supplies last at Colorado Springs Utilities Conservation and Environmental Center, 2855 Mesa Road).

� Test my toilets for leaks. Toilet test method:

1. Add 10 drops of food color to water in the tank (the back part of the toilet).

2. Don’t flush.

3. Wait 10 minutes.

4. Look into bowl – If colored water appears in the bowl, then fix the flapper (watch this video and help your parents fix the leak: Go to YouTube.com and type in Stella fixes a leaky flapper) or get a low-flow toilet. Colorado Springs Utilities will give you $75 back if you buy a WaterSense low-flow toilet.

Signed: _______________________________________________

For more information, additional printable Water Warriors booklets, and links to other activities, visit www.csu.org and click on Residential, Community and then Kids corner. For rebate information, click on Ways to Save and then Rebates.

Please give us your feedback – [email protected].

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Level 1: Water Detective

What Needs Water?All animals, plants and YOU need water to live. Circle what needs water.

IMAGINE how many living beings need water! Draw a living thing from your imagination below…

Page content by Bear Creek & Fountain Creek Nature Centers and Imagination Celebration.

Water Warrior

TipDid you know? Colorado Springs gets an average of 16 inches of rain and snow each year. A drought occurs when there is less precipitation than usual.

Colorado Springs is in a drought!!

We all have to share the water. If YOU use less water, then everyone will have enough.

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Water Warrior Match GameIn each row, ONE of the Water Warriors is different from the others. Can you find them all?

Match GameWalter Waterdrop needs help sorting out his friends! In each row, ONE of the water-dudes is different from the others. Can you find them all?

H2O H2O H2O H2O H2O

Source: safewaterscience.org

Page content by Colorado Springs Utilities.

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Water Cycle Match Up

Page content by Science Matters, courtesy of pinellascounty.org.

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How water gets to your homeColor your water system.

cloud

streams

Your Home

Water flows downstream in Fountain Creekto others who need the water too.

reservoir

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cleaned.

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pipeline

Rocky Mountains

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cleaned again.

pipelinepi

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sewer lines

Did you know?Colorado Springs

doesn’t have a large river,so water is piped

from over 100 milesaway.

The average

person in Colorado Springs

uses 97 gallons of water

each day.


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Water Warrior DecoderDecode the words below to learn about Colorado Springs’ water.

1 = A

2 = B

3 = C

4 = D

5 = E

6 = F

7 = G

8 = H

9 = I

10 = J

11 = K

12 = L

13 = M

14 = N

15 = O

16 = P

17 = Q

18 = R

19 = S

20 = T

21 = U

22 = V

23 = W

24 = X

25 = Y

26 = Z

Drinking water in ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ comes from

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ watersheds: the

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ ___, the

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ River, and the

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

River. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

is collected in the ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

and ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

more than 100 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ in

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ to get to

___ ___ ___ ___.

3 15 12 15 18 1 4 15

13 15 21 14 20 1 9 14 19

16 9 16 5 12 9 14 5 19

1 18 11 1 14 19 1 19

3 15 12 15 18 1 4 15

19 16 18 9 14 7 19

16 12 1 20 20 5

20 18 1 22 5 12 19

20 8 18 5 5

19 14 15 23 13 5 12 20

20 15 23 14

18 9 22 5 18

13 9 12 5 19

19 15 21 20 8

18 15 3 11 25


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80% of the water used in Colorado Springs comes from the Rocky Mountains and 20% comes from Pikes Peak.

Water Warrior

Tip


Maze Craze

Page content by Catamount Institute.

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Page content by Friends of Cheyenne Cañon.

Follow Water’s JourneyOur fresh water comes primarily from the snowpack in the mountains. This fresh water collects and forms creeks and rivers that flow across the United States.

Where does the water flow to?

First Cheyenne Creek and other creeks flow into Colorado Springs.

Then they join Fountain Creek and go south to Pueblo.

There, the water will merge with the Arkansas River.

Look at the map below:

Follow the Arkansas River. What other rivers does it flow into before it meets the

ocean? __________________________and ___________________________

What ocean does the water from Colorado Springs eventually end in?

________________________________

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CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS

For more information, please visit EPA’s Polluted Runoff web site

at www.epa.gov/nps

For more information, please visit EPA’s Polluted Runoff web site

at www.epa.gov/nps

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Across:1) The area of land that drains into an estuary,

lake, stream, or groundwater is known as a ______.

4) The ______ of speeding boats can erode shorelines.

5) Maintaining your ______ tank will help to prevent bacteria and nutrients from leaking into groundwater and surface waters.

7) Wetland plants act like a natural water ______, removing harmful pollutants from stormwater runoff.

8) Leave your grass clippings on your ______ to reduce the need for commercial fertilizers.

9) A single quart of motor ______, if disposed of improperly, can pollute 2 million gallons of water.

10) Fertilizers and animal wastes contain ______ that “feed” algae and other aquatic plants harmful to water quality.

12) Polluted runoff from both rural and ______ sources has a significant impact on water quality.

16) Storm ______ don’t always connect to sewage treatment plants, so runoff can flow directly to rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.

18) Follow directions carefully when applying ______ on your lawn-more isn’t always better.

19) Polluted runoff (also called ______ source pollution) comes from so many places that it’s hard to “pinpoint” a source.

20) Yard and vegetable food waste are suitable additions to a ______ pile.

Choices:

compost

drains

erosion

farms

fertilizer

filter

lawn

Low

nonpoint

nutrients

oil

plant

pollution

recycle

runoff

sediment

septic

storm

drain

urban

wakes

watershed

wetlands

Down:2) Don’t dump used motor oil into storm

drains. ______ it!3) ______ of soil from barren land can

cloud nearby streams.4) ______ prevent flooding, improve water

quality, and provide habitat for waterfowl, fish, and wildlife.

5) Marking “Do Not Dump, Drains to Bay” on a ______ is one way to educate people about polluted runoff.

6) Excess sediment, nutrients. toxics, and pathogens are all types of runoff ______.

11) Polluted ______ is the nation’s #1 water quality problem.

13) The cattail is one wetland ______ that helps purify polluted runoff.

14) Too much ______ In water can harm aquatic life.

15) Proper crop and animal management on ______ helps to control water pollution.

17) ______ impact development helps control stormwater pollution through conservation approaches and techniques.


Complete the stormwater runoff crossword puzzle

Page content by City of Colorado Springs.

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Dig into Ice!Pretend you are a paleontologist on a dig – during the Ice Age.

Materials: � Flexible pan or plastic container � Small items to freeze into ice � Small hammer or mallet � Water � Freezer

Procedure:Place several small items or toys into the plastic container. Spread out so they are not touching each other. Pour enough water over them to cover completely. Place in freezer overnight or until completely frozen.

Discovery: When frozen, pop out of container. Place on hard surface. Hammer until all the items have escaped the ice!

Water Word Search


P M A E R T S B G T X O B F L A K E H R W T L I D J O Q T E P A X L L L E W L A I N T T U G V P U T P F O E Y T D W C M E V S R R A I M K E S T R Z B N P O Y N N E F A S K W A N T

Find and circle these words:

STREAM WELL FILTER TREATMENT PIPES

TANK SAFE POLLUTION WATER LAKE

source: EPA.govPage content by Pikes Peak Library District.

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INVITE BIRDS TO YOUR BACKYARD!

People need water to live and so do animals. What about the wildlife that passes through or lives in your backyard? Do they have the water they need to survive?

You can provide fresh water for birds by making a bird bath and dripper out of recycled items. Here’s how!

1. Find a clean, old plastic milk or juice jug – try different styles!

2. With an adult’s help, poke one or two tiny holes in the bottom of the jug with a push pin, and one near the top for air flow.

3. Using some string, tie the container to a tree, your deck, or other appropriate spot.

4. Place a bird bath under the jug (any shallow container will do – an old metal trash can lid, a flat rock with a depression in the middle, or even an old cake pan!) to capture the water and make a pool.

5. Fill the jug with water.

6. Enjoy watching your backyard feathered friends drink and bathe in the water you provided! Write down your observations of the birds here:

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Did You Know? This dripper style bird bath helps to save water and keeps mosquitoes from laying eggs in your bird bath. Every few days, be sure to scrub the bath out to keep algae from growing inside of it.

Page content by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

Water Warrior

Tip

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Level 2: Water ExplorerGood job Water Warrior -

you made it to Level 2!

Note: You will need your parent’s help to visit locations around town or work on-line to complete this level.

Become a Water Explorer, earn a free prize AND enter our drawing to win a bike:

�� Take the Water Warrior Conservation Pledge on page 2.

�� Complete 6 or more Water Detective activities, pages 3 – 12.

�� Finish 4 or more Water Explorer adventures, pages 15 – 24; locations listed on page 29.

�� On the back of the booklet, fill in the box to the corresponding location you visited and include your contact information (this is your entry for the bike drawing).

Bring your Water Warriors booklet to one of the locations listed below to get your prize. Your FREE prize is the choice of a water bottle or shower timer. Be sure to turn in the completed, back page of your booklet to enter the drawing to win a bicycle! (Bicycle donated by Kids on Bikes.)

o Colorado Springs Utilities Conservation & Environmental Center (M-F 9am-5pm).

o Penrose Library Branch (M-Th 9am-9pm, F-Sat 10am-6pm).

o East Library Branch (M-Th 9am-9pm, F-Sat 10am-6pm).

Water Warrior challenge deadline is AUGUST 16, 2013 to collect prizes and be entered into the drawing. Drawing winners will be announced on September 7, 2013 at the What IF Festival (www.WhatIF-Festival.org). Need not be present to win.

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Answer Key to Level 1: Water Detective pages

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Page 7

Page 8

Page 9What other rivers does the Arkansas River flow into before it meets the ocean? Canadian and Mississippi rivers. What ocean does water from Colorado Springs eventually end in? The Atlantic Ocean via the Gulf of Mexico.

Page 10

Page 11

Match GameWalter Waterdrop needs help sorting out his friends! In each row, ONE of the water-dudes is different from the others. Can you find them all?

H2O H2O H2O H2O H2O

Hey Gang! If you enjoyed this activity book, visit www.pinellascounty.org/utilities/kids for more fun games.

Maze Craze (page 2)Sudoku (page 8)

1 evaporation

2 condensation

3 precipitation

4 runoff

5 percolation

Water Cycle (page 4)

Water drop search (page 1)

The total number of

is 16

Word Search (page 6)

R J V A P O R Z C Q O Y F H F V K R

W X Z R D B D I L L Z Y I Y P A O T

A P B C W E V A O A S U N D E K O Q

T I U M E K D Q U E X P R R R E B V

E P R G P U N U D U B P O O C T Y U

R B W E R J V I S C X G S L O Z G C

H B A Q E L H F B O L B G O L A K E

X Z T G C U W E A N U K S G A P S B

M U E W I I K R T D R N J I T Z D R

T Q R H P M L O R E Z I R C I L W U

C I S G I C E P R N D W V C O W E N

X C H S T R E A M S M Y Z Y N O O O

Q Z E N A W I M E A Z B J C Q C G F

Z F D F T K D O B T N A A L A E I F

S N O W I S P J J I J B W E I A Y Q

H B O X O E V A P O R A T I O N B Z

G R A I N V B B P N A W M A W Y Z C

C Q E Y C P V L C O N S E R V E K S

Answer Key for Wet Gazette: The Sequel

Unscrambled word: CONSERVE

Drinking water in Colorado Springs comes from three watersheds: the Colorado River, the Arkansas River, and the South Platte River. Snowmelt is collected in the Rocky Mountains and travels more than 100 miles in pipelines to get to town.

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P M A E R T S B G T X O B F L A K E H R W T L I D J O Q T E P A X L L L E W L A I N T T U G V P U T P F O E Y T D W C M E V S R R A I M K E S T R Z B N P O Y N N E F A S K W A N T

w a t e r s h e dw a v e s

s e p t i c

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Did you know? Nearly half of our water is used outside in our yards? The Xeriscape Demonstration Garden features plants adapted to our dry climate. Xeric plants are beautiful, easy to take care of and will reduce your outdoor water use by 25-50%.

Level 2: Water Explorer

Go on a Scavenger Hunt in the Xeriscape Garden!

Where: Map location #1 (see page 29) Colorado Springs Utilities Xeriscape Demonstration Garden at the Conservation & Environmental Center. The garden is always open to the public.

What you will need: a pencil and a water bottle.

Pick up a Xeriscape Demonstration Garden Walking Tour Map & Guide by the front doors.

Step 1: Find the Bronze Fennel in the herb garden located in the moderate

water zone. Without picking it, rub a leaf between your fingers.

What does it smell like? ______________________________

Step 2: Find a Yucca Plant in the very low water zone. Drip

some water on the tips of the leaves. What happens, and why?

_________________________________________________

Step 3: Find a plant with soft, fuzzy leaves. Write down its

name. ____________________________________________

Why do you think this plant has fuzzy leaves? _____________

_________________________________________________

Step 4: Look for a box near the solar powered waterfall. Take one sticker from the box and place it on the back of your Water Warriors booklet next to the Colorado Springs Utilities logo.

Mak

e every drop count

Water Warrior

Tip

An adaption is something

a plant or animal has developed

to help them survive.

Answers: 1. Licorice 2. The leaves funnel water to the base of the plant and directly to the roots. 3. Plants adapt fuzzy leaves to reduce water loss through the leaf surface.


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Find Your Creek!

Did You Know? Storm water is rain or snow that falls on streets, roofs and other hard surfaces that flows into our creeks without being treated.

On your next walk, bike ride, or car ride, look for the creek

signs throughout our city!

We all have waterfront property, because the water leaving your home eventually drains into a creek. There are 37 creeks in Colorado Springs. Do you know the name of the creek closest to your house? Use a computer to figure it out!

Step 1: Go to: www.springsgov.com/stormwatermaps

Step 2: Click on Drainage Basins of Colorado Springs, showing our creeks and basins.

Step 3: Use the map to locate your home and the closest creek. Write the creek’s name next to the City of Colorado Springs logo on the back of this booklet.

The creek closest to my house is: ____________________________________.

Two other creeks close to my house are named: _________________________.

and _______________________________ creeks.

This is a storm drain, also known as a catch basin.

Storm water flows from your house, onto the street, into these drains, and directly into creeks and ditches! This water never gets cleaned, which makes our water dirty.

Find a catch basin in your neighborhood. What else do you see going into the

storm drains when it rains, besides rainwater? ___________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

This summer, keep our water clean by cleaning up trash, pet waste, grass clippings, leaves, and debris so it doesn’t end up in storm drains!

Water Warrior

Tip

Page content by City of Colorado Springs.

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Be a Zookeeper Assistant!Where: Map location #2 (see page 29) Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Step 1: All animals depend on water, but some animals are specially adapted to live in or around water all the time. While walking around the Zoo, find the animals pictured below and watch them closely. What are 3 adaptations each of them have that makes them well equipped for an aquatic life?

Aquatic Adaptations

1.

2.

3.

1.

2.

3.

1.

2.

3.

Step 2: Animals need water every day just like we do. While at the Zoo, visit the Loft Exploration Center. Ask the keeper if you can help change the water in an animal’s exhibit. When you’re done, answer the following questions about the animals in the Loft.

Do the amphibians get the same type of water as the reptiles? ______________

Why or why not? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Step 3: Have the zookeeper check you answers and stamp the back page of your Water Warriors booklet.

River Otter

Beaver

Nile Hippopotamus

An adaptation is something

a plant or animal has developed

to help them survive.

Page content by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

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Design a 3-d environment!Where: Map location #3 (see page 29) Imagination Celebration iSpace at the Citadel Mall (upper level near Burlington’s).

Step 1: Design a three dimensional environment for an IMAGINARY ORGANISM to make and take home.

Step 2: Use your IMAGINATION to come up with brand new ideas for saving water at your house. Add them to our water innovations exhibit panel.


Do you know what a water footprint is? Look this up and find out your score at

www.environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/change-the-course/

water-footprint-calculator/

My water footprint is___________

All living things need water to survive.

Humans can only live 3 days without water.

Step 3: After you have finished making your 3-D environment, have an iSpace staff member or volunteer stamp your Water Warriors booklet.

Page content by Imagination Celebration.

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Go on a streamside scavenger hunt!

Where: Map location #4 (see page 29) Catamount Institute at Sondermann Park

What you will need: A marker to ink the stamp.

The creek at Sondermann Park helps water an historic orchard. Follow the clues below to visit the tasty fruit trees that grow here and find your stamp.

Step 1: From the parking lot offices, head west toward the creek. Cross a bridge as soon as you find it.

Step 2: Head north toward the Lilacs. Follow the trail marker that shares this flower’s name.

Step 3: Look for old wood & dirt stairs that descend to the east. The big tree at the bottom of the stairs will help you know you are on the right path. Hop across the creek here because there is no bridge!

Step 4: Journey up-stream on a narrow deer path until you arrive at the old beaver home. They need water to keep themselves safe from predators.

Step 5: Join a larger trail as you go on up stream and away from the creek. Soon you will find wild fruit trees in a meadow with their trunks wrapped in cages.

Step 6: The clump of trees (surrounded by a cage) furthest from the trail and furthest upstream is your destination. Find a stamp hidden in a box, under a rock, just outside the cage. Use your marker to ink the stamp.The stamp will tell you what kind of fruit grows on this tree!

It is ____________________________________________________!

Step 7: Stamp the back of your Water Warriors booklet to prove you were here.

Step 8: LEAVE THE STAMP IN THE BOX & RE-HIDE! If you can’t find the box or stamp, ask Catamount Institute Staff for help.


Pick up after your pet so their waste doesn’t get into our streams.Water

Warrior Tip

Page content by Catamount Institute.

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Be a Nature Detective!Where: Map locations #5 and/or #6 (see page 29) Bear Creek and Fountain Creek Nature Centers

Step 1: Be a nature detective and discover the natural world. As you find the items below, color in the water drop.

A bug on the ground Nest of sticks or leaves

A beaver chewed tree A plant that looks like a hot dog on a stick

Animal tracks or scat A hole in a tree–who made it?_________________

Step 2: Take a hike on the nature trails at Bear Creek Nature Center and discover the three habitats of the area. You will walk through the riparian area (rich with water), scrub oak forest, and meadow habitats. Draw what you see in each habitat. Notice the size of the plants in each.

Riparian Scrub Oak Forest Meadow

Some plants are very small while others are very big. Why do you think they are

different sizes? ___________________________________________________

AND/ORStep 3: Visit Fountain Creek Nature Center and take a hike along the wetlands.

Draw what you see.

Was a turtle sunning itself on a log? ___________________________________

Step 4: Come inside the Nature Center and have the staff stamp your Water Warriors booklet.


Don’t be a litterbug! Pick up trash when you see it to help keep our water clean.Water

Warrior Tip

Page content by Bear Creek & Fountain Creek Nature Centers.

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Do an “I-Spy” HuntWhere: Map location #7 (see page 29) Garden of the Gods Park

Water is a rare resource inside the Garden of the Gods. You will not see any lakes, ponds or flowing water, but the effects of water can be seen all over.

Step 1: Stop at the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center and get a free park map.

Step 2: Follow the Perkins Central Garden Trail. How many things can you find from the list below:

____1. Water fountain. Thirsty? Water is brought into the Park through pipes buried deep underground for use in water fountains and restrooms.

____2. Kissing Camels. Water and other elements like wind have shaped the sandstone rocks to look like two camels kissing. This process is known as erosion. Some people think it will bring you good luck to blow a kiss to the Camels.

____3. Holes in the rocks. When water soaks into the rocks and then freezes, it expands and causes more erosion (ice wedging). Over time, this erosion can form holes in the rocks that provide good habitat for wildlife.

____4. Culverts. Culverts are large pipes used to carry water under trails, bridges or roads. If we didn’t use culverts, water would erode away our trails.

____5. Stone ripples. Water was more common in this area a long time ago. Thousands of years ago, water made ripple marks that turned to stone and can be seen on Sentinel Spires today.

____6. Yucca plant. This plant has adapted to live in dry environments. Its green, dagger-shaped leaves protect the plant while catching and funneling precious water to its center and roots.

____7. Water stains. When it rains or snow melts, water can run down the side of the tall rocks staining them with a lighter color shade. This is a clue to the start of more erosion.

Step 3: Find the large dedication plaque on South Gateway Rock. Write the year the park was donated to the City of Colorado Springs on the back of your Water Warriors booklet.

Page content by Friends of Garden of the Gods.

22

Reveal the Secrets of a Ponderosa Pine

Where: Map location #8 (see page 29) North Cheyenne Cañon Park

Step 1: Use the drawing below and the giant tree cookie at Helen Hunt Falls Visitor Center, 3440 North Cheyenne Cañon Road, to answer the questions.

CIRCLE YOUR ANSWER

1. Narrow tree rings indicate what?

tapping of sap drought conditions animal activity

2. The scar tells us the tree lived through what type of natural disaster?

flood forest fire drought

3. What actually killed this tree?

fungus forest fire erosion

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3


Step 2: Take a walk at Starsmore Discovery Center. Investigate the tracks of the pine beetle on the fallen Ponderosa pine tree in the clearing behind Starsmore. (Look next to the creek!) Describe what they look like:

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Step 3: Ask any staff member or volunteer to check your answers and have them stamp your Water Warriors booklet.

Page content by North Cheyenne Cañon Park City Staff.

1. Drought conditions effect width of tree rings (narrow) and indicates a low growth year.

2. Successive years of little rainfall or drought make trees susceptible to fire.

3. Trees weakened by years of drought can be infested by pine beetles which carry blue fungus.

23


Be a Water Scientist!The earth has a limited amount of water. That water keeps going around and around and around (well, you get the idea) in what we call the “Water Cycle.” There are four main parts of the cycle: Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation and Collection.

Step 1: Try this experiment on evaporation.

You will need: Three clear containers, water, masking tape, markers, ruler, 3 different locations.

Procedure:1. Fill each container with ONE cup of water. 2. Tape the masking tape on the container at the top of the water line and

write the date and time on the masking tape. 3. Place each container of water in a different location. Locations could be in

a sunny window, on a table outside, under a tree or in a closet. 4. After each day, measure the amount of water remaining in the container

and record it on the chart below.

Prediction: I think the container located ___________________ will evaporate

more water because _______________________________________________ .

Evaporation Experiment Data Chart

Container Location 1st Day (oz.) 2nd Day (oz.) 3rd Day (oz.)

1

2

3

What I learned: __________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Step 2: Get your Water Warriors booklet code. 1. Log on to www.sciencematters.tv.2. Select “Experiment of the Month.”3. Send the name of the experiment of the month in an email to contest@

sciencematters.tv.4. You will receive an email response with the special code. Write the code

on the back of your Water Warriors booklet to complete this activity.

Evaporation is the process by which water is converted from its liquid form to its vapor form and transferred to the atmosphere. Only water your yard before 10am or after 6pm to reduce water evaporation.

Water Warrior

Tip

Page content by Science Matters.

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Dig Into Drought!Where: Map locations L1 through L7 (see page 29) Your Local Library

Step 1: Check out a book about water or drought at your local library

Step 2: Attend a free water program at a PPLD location.

• Where does the water go during a drought? • Help make a cloud in a bottle and play with

our water system display! • Learn about xeric plants and plant your own

flower seeds. Come to this Colorado Springs Utilities program at the library and we’ll teach you ways to save water too! This program is sure to make you water wise and a little dirty as you Dig into Drought! Best for ages 4 and up.

Dates and Times:

• Friday,June21,bookmobilestop,CanterburyMobileHomePark, 2:30 – 3:15 p.m. (map location L6)

• Tuesday,June25,bookmobilestop,PringRanchPark,2:45–3:30p.m.(map location L7)

• Friday,June28,RockrimmonLibrary,10:30a.m.(maplocationL3)

• Friday,July5,PenroseLibrary,10:30a.m.(maplocationL2)

• Wednesday,July10,SandCreekLibrary,10:30a.m.(maplocationL5)

• Thursday,July18,EastLibrary,10:30a.m.(maplocationL1)

• Tuesday,July23,RuthHolleyLibrary,10:30a.m.(maplocationL4)

Join us on Friday, July 26 at the East Library for our free Summer Reading Party

from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Step 3: Bring your Water Warriors booklet to a librarian when you check out a book and have them stamp the back page.

A drought is a time of abnormally dry

weather.

Page content by Pikes Peak Library District.

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Level 3: Water EngineerGreat job Water Warrior -

you made it to Level 3!

Become a Water Engineer, earn a free prize AND compete to win a Kindle:

�� Take the Water Warrior Conservation Pledge on page 2.

�� Complete activities and questions on pages 26 – 28.

�� Design, test and build a low-flow showerhead prototype.

Bring your showerhead prototype to one of the locations (see map on page 29) listed below to get your free prize—a WaterSense® low-flow showerhead. The Water Engineer who creates the best prototype will win a Kindle!

o Colorado Springs Utilities Conservation & Environmental Center (M-F 9am-5pm).

o Penrose Library Branch (M-Th 9am-9pm, F-Sat 10am-6pm).

o East Library Branch (M-Th 9am-9pm, F-Sat 10am-6pm).

NOTE: Please clearly label your prototype entry with your contact information.

Water Warrior challenge deadline is AUGUST 16, 2013 to collect prizes and enter the Water Engineer competition. Colorado Springs Utilities will select the best showerhead prototype to receive the grand prize, a Kindle. The winner will be announced on September 7, 2013 at the What IF Festival (www.WhatIF-Festival.org). Need not be present to win.

26

Design your own low-flow showerhead

Clean is good...but how can you get clean and save our water resources? Some facts about water usage from the EPA:

How much water do we use?

Earth may be known as the “water planet,” but even though about 70% of its surface is covered

by water, less than 1% is available for human use. Water supplies are finite and we can all help protect this critical and precious resource.

Americans use large quantities of water inside their homes. The average family of four can use 400 gallons of water every day.

The bathroom is the largest consumer of indoor water. The toilet alone can

use 14% of household water.

Engineering ChallengeUse the engineering design process to create a showerhead that will save on water but still rinse off the soap!

Step 1: Ask! How can I design a showerhead that uses the least amount of water but still gets me clean?

Step 2: Imagine! Sketch some ideas and discuss with friends or family members. Some questions to ponder:

• What is the effect of hole size in a showerhead on water usage?

• What is the effect of the number of holes on water usage?

• What other sizes, types, and shapes of showerheads have already been invented?

Shower/ Bath12%

Clothes Washer

14%

Faucets10%

Dishwasher1%

Leaks/ Other

7%Toilets14%

Landscape42%

Level 3: Water Engineer

Reduce your indoor water use by taking a 5 minute shower, and flushing only when necessary. Try following “If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down.”

Water Warrior

Tip

The engineering design process is the formulation of a plan to help

an engineer build a product with a specified

performance goal.

(continued on next page)

27

Level 3: Water Engineer (continued)

(continued on next page)

Sketch of Prototype

Steps for Creating1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Will paper

cups work? Why or why

not?

Step 3: Plan! What do I need to build and test?

Suggested Materials

6 clear plastic drinking cups 6 small plastic bowl 6 push pins (to make holes) 6 water and a basin to catch water 6 stopwatch or timer 6 towels for wiping spills 6 permanent marker 6 pencil/paper for notetaking and gathering data

What other materials might you need?

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Testing Suggestions

6 Test hole sizes first; do they make a difference? How much of a difference?

6 Test number of holes; what do you observe?

6 What other kinds of data should you gather? Other tests?

28

Level 3: Water Engineer(continued)

Step 4: Create! Using your data, design and build a model showerhead that you think will be efficient. Test it! Record your data and test again! What did you find out?

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Step 5: Improve! Can you improve on your design? Build another model and test it. Were your results better?

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Step 6: Bring your model showerhead to Colorado Springs Utilities (map location #1), East Library (map location #L1) or Penrose Library (map location #L2) to get a free, low-flow showerhead and compete to win a Kindle.

Page content by elemSTEMary.

29

Water Warrior map locationsP

owers B

lvd.

Vindicator

Fillmore

Garden of the Gods Road

Cascade

21st S

t.

30th S

treet

Mesa

Cheyenne Blvd.Chelton

Galley

Mesa Ridge

Rockrimmon

Briargate Parkway

Academy B

lvd.

Uintah

115

1 Xeriscape Demonstration Gardenat the Conservation & Environmental Center, 2855 Mesa Rd. (719) 448-4800

2 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd. (719) 633-9925

3 Imagination Celebration Citadel Mall (719) 387-9015

4 Catamount Institute at Sondermann Park740 W Caramillo St.(719) 471-0910

5 Bear Creek Nature Center245 Bear Creek Rd.(719) 520-6387

6 Fountain Creek Nature Center320 Pepper Grass Ln., Fountain(719) 520-6745

7 Garden of the Gods Park 1805 N. 30th St. (719) 634-6666

8 North Cheyenne Cañon Park 2120 S. Cheyenne Cañon Rd.(719) 385-6086

Library BranchesL1 East Library5550 N. Union Blvd.(719) 531-6333

L2 Penrose Library20 N. Cascade Ave.(719) 531-6333

L3 Rockrimmon Library832 Village Center Dr.(719) 593-8000

L4 Ruth Holley Library685 North Murray Blvd.(719) 597-5377

L5 Sand Creek Library1821 South Academy Blvd.(719) 597-7070

Map not to scale

L6 Bookmobile Stop, Canterbury Mobile Home Park3020 South Powers Blvd.(719) 531-6333

L7 Bookmobile Stop, Pring Ranch ParkTutt Blvd. and Brindle Spur Ave.(719) 531-6333

N

L3

1

L1

L2 3 L4

L7

L5

L6

4

5

2

8

6

7

Water Warriors Checklist

Name ___________________________________ Phone __________________

Email ___________________________________________________________

Documents

Water Warriors Activity Booklet - Colorado Springs … Colorado Springs is in a drought. We all need water and conserving it is more important than ever! The Water Warriors booklet