Directions and Reminders for Storm Drain Stenciling

Girl Scout volunteers participating in a "pollutants on" (AKA Post-It-Notes) activity to learn about storm drain networks and the pollutants picked up by runoff water in a city environment. This was Option 1 of the A-mazing-ing Water activity in the Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide.

1. Record on the data card, what items you find within 6 feet of each side of the storm drain. Use tick marks and only one data card for all your drains. Also record the total number of storm drains your group stencils during the day.

2. Look at the storm drain and where most of the material has collected. Is there one side of the drain that you can see more of the road surface? The area that looks the cleanest is the side of the drain that you want to stencil on so that our message will not be covered up as easily.

3. Sweep or shovel all the built up material away from the storm drain.
   • Pick up any trash near the storm drain and put it in your garbage bags.
   • With the wire brush, clean of the area that you are going to stencil really well so that there is no fine sands. This will make the paint stay for a long time.
   • Paint the message close to the drain. For example: the edge of the stencil material should be within 1 or 2 inches of the edge of the drain.
   • Use your very best judgement on this. If the ground is too bumpy or uneven then adjust the stencil to what you think is best.

   ** Just please do not paint the stencil in the middle of the traffic lane.

   Stenciling volunteers using old cereal boxes to brush up on their painting skills before painting the masterpieces on the street.

4. Preparing to Paint!
   • Place one traffic cone on either side of the storm drain and a 25-50 away from where the group will be working. This will warn traffic that there are people working here and will help keep you all safe.
   • If there are cars that look like they are too close and might get paint on them, try to ask the people at the house to move it. If there is no one home then skip that storm drain and move on to the next one.
   • Place the stencil in your chosen place.
   • Put the cardboard box over the stencil so that all three sides are on the plastic stencil material. This will make sure that no extra paint gets on the street.
   • Place a drop cloth (or newspaper) under the part of the box that is over the street and where you will be kneeling to paint.
   • Shake up the can of spray paint.

5. When you paint
   • The paint comes directly out of the top of the can so hold it almost upside down.
   • Start your spraying motion away from the lettering on the stencil.
   • Move from one side to the other side of the lettering in one even motion.
   • Remember, NEVER stop in one place while spraying the image!! This will cause the paint to glob up and run. Then the message will not be readable.

   Group picture of the Girl Scouts of Peninsula Waters, Troops 143 and 329, after a fun day of storm drain stenciling.

   ****** Immediately after you are done spraying, hold the extra piece of cardboard over the opening in the cardboard box to trap the overspray and let it settle. We want to be very careful that this does not get on any cars. You can leave a small opening at the bottom to let some of it escape slowly. Keep the cardboard in place for a minute or two.

   ****** Also if it is very windy and there is a lot of the overspray coming out of the box, stop and wait a few minutes until the wind dies down.

6. When it is time to pick up and go to the next storm drain:
   • Put an orange traffic cone on the street side of the newly painted stencil message so that cars do not run over the paint.
   • Pick up all of the groups things
   • Check the stencil to make sure there is no paint on the bottom of the stencil that might get on the street at the next drain to be stenciled. Wipe off any extra paint that may have gotten on the bottom.
   • Pound the wet paint sign into the ground near the storm drain.

   ***** Remember to pick up the orange traffic cone at the storm drain you did before this one.

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