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Participation fee $0
Expenses $30
Spend the time outdoors
Location United States
Children yes
Primary school yes
Secondary school yes
Teaching materials yes


Required Gear:

A high capacity 4-inch-diameter rain gauge (ask your State Coordinator or follow links from the CoCoRaHS Website). Or, enter for a chance to win a free, high capacity rain gauge! http://www.scienceforcitizens.net/changingplanet/rain

A computer or smart device with an internet connection.


CoCoRaHS: Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network


Help weather services, researchers watch for weather trends.
Measure and map precipitation.

The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) is a unique, non-profit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together towBy using low-cost measurement tools, stressing training and education, and utilizing an interactive website, our aim is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education and research applications.

Each time a rain, hail, or snow storm occurs, volunteers take measurements of precipitation from their registered locations (reports of 'zero' precipitation are encouraged too!). The reports are submitted to the website and are immediately available for viewing. It's educational, but moreover, fun! Just wait until you start comparing how much rain fell in your backyard vs. your neighbor!

The data are used by the National Weather Service, meteorologists, hydrologists, emergency managers, city utilities, insurance adjusters, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, engineers, mosquito control, ranchers and farmers, outdoor and recreation interests, teachers, students, and neighbors in the community.

Related Material: View the 'Story of CoCoRaHS' here: http://www.youtube.com/cocorahs

Track Local Rain, Hail, and Snow Precipitations (Science Cheerleader) at http://www.sciencecheerleader.com/2009/01/track_local_rain_hail_and_snow_precipitations/

Citizen Scientists Weathered the Tornado Outbreak (Talking Science) at:
http://www.talkingscience.org/2011/05/citizen-scientists-weathered-the-tornado-outbreak/