Owlie's Weather-Ready Educational Activity

As NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) continues to work towards building a Weather-Ready Nation, the NWS Outreach program is continually working on creating new ways to reach our youth.  It has been shown youth retain information about weather hazards, the science behind the hazards, and weather safety information more than adults.  Most importantly, our youth take action and bring their newly acquired knowledge and weather science and safety into their homes; they educate their families, take action, and ultimately, keeping their families safe!  

The goal of Owlie’s Weather-Ready Educational Activity is to ensure more families, schools,  community groups, and youth organizations become Weather-Ready.  Those who complete the activity will learn about various weather hazards, the science behind the hazard, how to be safe during a weather event, and most importantly, how to keep their families and friends safe.  

Owlie’s Weather-Ready Educational Activity consists of 3 components:

1. Young Meteorologist Game
2. Emergency Supplies Kit
3. Communications Plan

The Young Meteorologist Game  will educate the students about weather hazards and safety/preparedness.  It also coincides with the topics meteorologists are typically asked to address during classroom visits. The Instructor can assign as individual activity (print YMP certificate to show completion) or can go through the program with the entire class.

The second component of the activity is the Emergency Supplies Kit. Building one in the classroom and/or recreational center ensures the location is better prepared and teaches the students about what they should have on-hand at home.  Students also build a kit at home and show proof of completion to the instructor. The required items will be items usually found already in the home.

Lastly, the creation of a Communications Plan. Students will create a family communications plan with their family as homework. The plan ensures each home is prepared in the face of a disaster and that each person knows who to contact.

Owlie’s Weather-Ready Educational Activity is extremely versatile.  It can be used by formal educators, non-formal educators, community organizations and group leaders, etc. It can be implemented in many ways. Not only can the activity be led by a group instructor, scout leader, and formal educator, but it also can be implemented using the service learning model most schools nationwide are participating in.

Be a Force of Nature by knowing your risk, taking action and being an example in your community!!