The BCK Coordinator customizes the program to address the water quality issues of the local watershed and school site. Students apply to be "hired" as SWPPP interns. With the knowledge and experience gained throughout the program, SWPPP interns are knowledgable environmental leaders.
These young people collect data at their school site using visual observations and by collecting rain runoff samples. They analyze results to identify common pollutants and compare them to EPA benchmarks. With this information, students then design solutions to reduce pollutants flowing from their school site which may include educational activities designed to change attitudes and behavior among peers, school staff, and the parent community along with structural improvements to reduce or capture pollutants before entering the storm drains. Interns organize all of this into a SWPPP report similar to those used by industry and present their findings to the community.
Since SWPPP Internship began in 2013, interns have presented to community associations including city councils, rotary clubs and school boards. They share their findings annually at industry association meetings and have presented to government organizations including the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board as well as the California State Water Resources Control Board in Sacramento. Gaining the knowledge and confidence to share their work with a broad audience is an important aspect of the program.
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Annual UpdatesThe SWPPP Internship™ Program materials are updated to reflect evolving permit requirements as they pertain to the school site and relevant water quality requirements . These updates are available with the annual license renewal.
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LocalizationThe BCK Programs Coordinator establishes connections with your city’s officials and identifies the challenges of your local watershed. In this way, interns can have a direct impact on meeting your city’s stormwater permit requirements and expanding upon the Education and Public Outreach of your city’s Water Quality Improvement Plan.
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Customization
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Secondary School EditionThe Secondary School Edition is appropriate for use with middle and high schools students. The material is similar to the Elementary School Edition with additional focus on career skill development and building vocational and educational connections in the community.
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Elementary School EditionThe Elementary School Edition is appropriate for students in fifth through seventh grade. All materials are age-appropriate yet challenge students with STEM-based analysis and hands-on training.
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The SWPPP Internship Program helps young students develop essential real-world skills, including scientific observations, data analysis, collaboration, engineering design, project management and public speaking all while working to meet local NPDES and MS4 permit requirements,
Partnering with BCK Programs
The staff at BCK Programs, LLC is your partner in launching the program at your school site. This collaboration brings together the classroom teacher's expertise as an educator with our experience as stormwater management professionals. The type of support included with each purchased license includes the following:
- Professional development at our introductory workshop
- Digital access to all program materials through our Google Drive
- Site-specific support by an assigned BCK Programs Coordinator, who will:
- Visit your school site and identify each of the five drainage areas and corresponding storm drains that your class will be studying
- Coordinate with local industry professionals to arrange a guest speaker visit
- Provide personalized support in implementing specifics of the program through collaboration
- Partner with you to plan the year-end presentation of the SWPPP to industry and/or education professionals
Three-Phased Program
The SWPPP Internship™ Program is organized into three phases:
During the third phase, interns implement educational and simple structural BMPs. In this way, the interns create and deliver messaging that targets the recycling of used oil and filters, to school staff, parents and the community.
- Education and Training
- Data Collection and Analysis
- BMP Design and Reporting
During the third phase, interns implement educational and simple structural BMPs. In this way, the interns create and deliver messaging that targets the recycling of used oil and filters, to school staff, parents and the community.
Support and Materials Provided
The following resources are included in your license:
- This SWPPP Internship™ Program Manual with detailed preparation for 28 staff meetings and online resources
- All equipment and lab materials for rain event collections, lab testing and catch basin maintenance
- Storm drain blueprints for the school site
- One-on-one support from experienced BCK Programs staff (see details below)
Throughout the SWPPP Internship™ Program, student interns develop essential real-world skills, including scientific observation, data analysis, collaboration, engineering design, project management, and public speaking, all while addressing state and regional water quality regulations. In a school setting, educational goals are also accomplished by weaving cross-curricular connections in a variety of content areas including English language arts and STEAM.
The overall program goals are to achieve water quality improvements beyond physical structures, by educating a larger audience about stormwater pollution and, more importantly, to engage, encourage, and embrace future environmental stewards to affect meaningful change in their communities.
The overall program goals are to achieve water quality improvements beyond physical structures, by educating a larger audience about stormwater pollution and, more importantly, to engage, encourage, and embrace future environmental stewards to affect meaningful change in their communities.
Phase 1: Education & Training
Education
Training
In Phase 1 interns map the storm drains on their school campus and examine how activities and pollutants in the drainage area may lead to downstream runoff pollution. Interns learn about how the storm drains on their campus tie into the municipal infrastructure and local watershed, illustrating how pollutants travel from their school to the ocean. Study is continued to research and discovery of on-site pollution sources such as sediment, oil and grease, food waste (identified by biochemical oxygen demand), fertilizers, animal feces, and water salinity (due to reclaimed water use) and the impact these pollutants have on our environment.
Analysis
Interns will evaluate the pollutant results from the lab report and in-class testing, comparing the concentrations of their samples to EPA benchmarks and identifying the pollutants that exceeded benchmarks. At this point, interns will research strategies and structural systems to prevent pollution from entering the storm drains, including how to induce behavioral changes at their school and in their community through educational programs and community outreach.
Phase 3: BMP Design & Reporting
Design
Student interns present Educational Source Control BMPs to the school and local community. This may include assemblies, posters, videos, letters to teachers and parents, and school announcements.
Interns oversee the implementation of Simple Treatment Control BMPs like placing wire mesh under the drain grate to capture litter and debris before it enters the drain, and assist in managing the completion of Complex Treatment Control BMPs (where funded and approved) such as bioretention swales.
Interns oversee the implementation of Simple Treatment Control BMPs like placing wire mesh under the drain grate to capture litter and debris before it enters the drain, and assist in managing the completion of Complex Treatment Control BMPs (where funded and approved) such as bioretention swales.
Reporting
Interns complete the SWPPP document and develop a presentation summarizing their findings from the year-long program. The SWPPP Internship™ Program supports the development of communication and presentation skills by encouraging interns to participate in educating others about their findings and recommendations during the year-end presentation of the SWPPP to the principal and school district representatives.
