Use the mapping tool to select any water body in America, no matter how big or small.
Step 1 - Build a profile for your stream Use photos, art, and the latest news about issues affecting your stream. Or how your "stream" has shaped the area around it. Discover what the future has in store. Use our rating system to spread the virtues of your stream with friends or alert others if the stream is in need of their help.
Step 2 - Take action for your stream with MyVolunteer Water Project Discover hundreds of simple ways that you can preserve and protect your Stream of Hope with the combined power of our MyVolunteer Water Project tool, which is included with the program. Do projects at home or use the tool to create a neighborhood team or even a virtual one.
Step 3 - Conduct citizen science Use the program to test local water quality, then share the information you collect with local and national researchers. We'll even ship the test kits to you.
Step 4 - Discover it. Share it Share your stream with friends, update the latest news about it, and what you're doing to make a difference. Above all, join the efforts of thousands of positive, solution-oriented stewards of our environment who love our lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and coasts as much as we do.
Creating Your Own Stream of Hope: A Step-by-Step Guide Welcome. If you're passionate about the ocean, rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands around us and eager to contribute to a community project, you're in the right place. We're going to navigate the world of Streams of Hope together, and don't worry if you're a novice - our guide is designed for everyone, regardless of your experience.
Step 1: Find Your Waterway The initial step in our water exploration journey is choosing a body of water that fascinates you. This could be anything from the tiny brook that flows through your neighborhood park, to the majestic river you admired during your last road trip, or the serene lake you stumbled upon in your recent countryside vacation. The size or proximity of the water body doesn't matter; what's important is that it resonates with you!
Step 2: Register to Streams of Hope Next, join the Streams of Hope community by clicking the "Create Your Stream" button on our homepage. You'll be prompted to provide your name, an active email address, and a password. Make sure your password is unique to ensure your account's safety. Aftereyou've entered these details, hit "Submit". Voila! You're officially a member of our water-loving community.
Step 3: Create Your Stream of Hope With your account all set, it's time to get creative! On your dashboard, find and click on the "Create a New Stream of Hope button. This is where you'll share details about your selected water body. Feel free to recount interesting anecdotes, describe its unique characteristics, or express what it means to you. Don't forget to upload pictures that capture its essence - visuals make your story more compelling!
Step 4: Rating Your Stream You'll notice a feature called the Streams of Hope rating system. It's akin to a health check-up report for your water body. This rating system allows you to convey how clean, vibrant, and diverse your chosen water body is. Every water system has its own charm, so there's no pressure - just sincere observations.
Step 6: Take A Simple Action to Help Your Stream With your Stream of Hope set up, you're ready for MyVolunteer Water Project. This amazing tool lets you plan and carry oute projects at home or in your community to help your water body. You could plant trees, clean up trash, or start a water-savinge challenge with friends. Doing even one small project can help your waterway and even earn prizes for your town as part of oure annual Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation
Step 5: Engage in Water Quality Testing (Optional) For those keen on diving deeper, water quality testing is an excellent next step. It might sound intimidating, but it's pretty straightforward, almost like a grade-school science project. We’ll guide you on how to do this and even provide the tools you’ll need. This exploratory task unveils more about your water body, adding to your knowledge and experience, and can be shared with local researchers to assist in their conservation efforts.
Step 6: Share Your Stream of Hope Once you're satisfied with your entry, press the "Submit" button. Note that your Stream of Hope won't immediately appear on the public map as our team first reviews it for any necessary adjustments. Once approved, your entry will be visible to the entire Streams of Hope community, ready to inspire and inform.
Creating a Stream of Hope is about curiosity, learning, and sharing. There's no rigid guideline to follow. The depth and breadth of your contribution are entirely up to you.
Are you ready to embark on this exciting journey? Let's dive in and start shaping your unique Stream of Hope today!
Streams of Hope, a program of the Wyland Foundation, endeavors to bring about concrete environmental improvement by engaging residents across the nation's socio-economic spectrum in the health and vitality of their local water bodies. The program's core premise is that the collective contribution of many individuals can result in meaningful environmental change. Key Studies Supporting Pro-Environmental Outcomes
Conclusion The environmental benefits achievable through Streams of Hope are substantiated by the evidence presented in the studies cited. By fostering community engagement, promoting environmental education, and providing tools for residents to take direct action, Streams of Hope is well-positioned to catalyze significant pro-environmental outcomes.
References Footnotes