Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Five county schools are adding artistic flair to rain barrels as part of a Warren County Conservation District project. Students involved in the project at Warren County Christian School include front, from left, Evan Hughes, Marilyn Emery, Paul Chapman and Michael Gouak and, back, Chiara Hoover, who did the design, Sarah Gouak, Jolene Gouak, Brie Mitchell, Abella Fisher and Samantha Hoover.

The Warren County Conservation District has enlisted student creativity to boost education efforts on watersheds, runoff and pollution.

Students at Sheffield, Eisenhower, Youngsville, Tidioute Community Charter School and the Warren County Christian School were given a rain barrel as a blank canvas and tasked with bringing it to life artistically.

“The rain barrel project is part of a Department of Environmental Protection — Environmental Education grant we received last year,” Jean Gomory, the Conservation District’s watershed specialist, explained. “We also hope to encourage people to install rain barrels at their house or business.”

A rain barrel is pretty much what it sounds like.

“Rain barrels are typically 55 gallon food-grade barrels residents can attach to the downspout of their house, business, garage; pretty much any structure with a downspout,” Gomory said. “The idea is to hold back some of this runoff so it doesn’t pick up quite as much pollution.”

While she cautioned against drinking the water that’s collected, she did identify several uses such as watering gardens and landscaping, potted plants and hanging baskets, to give the dog a bath, wash the car or hose down the driveway, etc.

“If you’re expecting another heavy rain before you can use all of the water in your barrel you can attach a soaker hose to the spigot and use it to water the nearby landscaping, or you can just drain it where it stands,” she said.

That educational effort will be boosted by the student’s work.

“We wanted to involve the schools to educate the younger generations and persuade them to make wise decisions in the future,” Gomory said. “We’re excited to see the finished products.”

The students have about another week to wrap up their designs.

“We will pick up the rain barrels from the schools on March 11,” Gomory said. “They will be displayed here at the office and during the month of April the public is invited to come down and vote for the People’s Choice Award.”

Gomory said she and District Technician Brianna Osborne will be at Ekey’s Florist and Greenhouse on May 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to answer questions and discuss rain barrels.

“The finished barrels will be on display and people who stop for information will be able to put their names in a drawing to win one of them,” she said.