August 4, 2006 – CSP Day 10
Mill River and West River Teams CSAPs

Wintergreen Brook Clean Up
Mill River Team CSAP

This morning, at 10:30am, the Mill River Team CSAP began!


Watershed model the Mill River Team built out of recycled materials

The group started with a presentation to explain the significance of cleaning up Wintergreen Brook, which flows into the West River, which supplies part of New Haven’s running water and flows into the Long Island Sound. The group explained that by cleaning up the brook, we were reducing the amount of non-point source pollution that eventually would end up in the Atlantic Ocean and affect North and South America, Europe and Africa. The group also presented their recycled art model of a watershed, specifically the watershed area that includes West Rock State Park and the brook.



From there, we hiked up the hill to Westville Manor and behind the Solar Youth office. Three groups descended upon the litter in the brook and one group painted signs that read “Conserve Water,” “Don’t Litter,” “Save the Wintergreen Brook” and “Save the Fishes.” These signs will be added to the area around the brook to encourage residents to keep the brook clean. The clean up crews moved out along the brook and took things out of the stream, as well as the area around it.


Solar Youth CSP Program with all the trash we picked up!

Litter We Picked Up: Barbie Jeep, stereo in several pieces, television, boot, milk crate, bike wheel, shelf frame
TOTAL: 10 bags of trash!

It was a great time and everyone helped to make our watershed a cleaner place!

Pick Me Up Mailing Party
West River Team CSAP

This afternoon at 1pm the Pick Me Up Mailing Party began!

The West River Team created postcards about non-point source pollution with the slogan “Join the PICK ME UP TEAM and KEEP IT CLEAN. Spread the word!” and organized a mailing party to get all the postcards addressed, stamped and signed.

The party started with games outside, one being a game that youth created during a Challenge Day. Then the group moved inside and it was time for the focal point of the party: the mailing!

Youth competed in their river teams to complete as many postcards as possible, including stamping, addressing and signing the cards. The team with the most completed postcards won points to add to their team jar.



After the hard work was done, the youth relaxed with music and refreshments. There was a dance contest, where many of the youth cut loose after a hard week of planning and executing CSAPs.

It was a great time all around! Good job West River Team!


The Gimp Outbreak

It’s inevitable. Once one person brings gimp into a camp or classroom, it spreads and everyone has gimp in their hands. A glimpse of some of our gimp creations: