With a goal of educating about floods’ role, as well as flood preparedness and flood management, Project WET publications address a critical global topic.

Bozeman, Mont, 02 Feb., 2009 – Both entitled Discover Floods, a new Educators Guide and companion Kids in Discovery series (KIDs) Activity Booklet, will be released at the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul, Turkey (March 16 to 22, 2009).

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Office of U.S.Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), and developed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Project WET, Discover Floods grew out of discussions at the 2006 forum in Mexico City.

Following the 2004 Tsunami that devastated coastal communities in Indonesia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand and the following year, Hurricane Katrina in the U.S., 2006 World Water Forum leaders struggled with balancing the need to benefit from floodplains with protecting people living in flood-prone areas and preserving the environment.

According to the World Meteorological Organization, “The way we deal with floods determines whether water remains a life-providing element or becomes a destructive force against human life and economic development.”

Using Project WET’s proven methodology of presenting information through diverse, hands-on and interactive methods, these materials educate teachers, students, families and communities worldwide about risk assessment, flood management, preparedness and planning.

According to Vice President of Publications Sandra DeYonge, “Although we cannot control extreme weather events, through education we can reduce our vulnerability by assessing our risk, whether at home or traveling, and preparing a plan.”

“Through ActionEducation™, we can prepare not only our families, but also our communities,” she said. “As we seek to improve the quality of life for all people, through flood awareness education, risk assessment, management and planning, we can benefit from floodplains and help keep communities safe.”

Both Discover Floods Educators Guide and Discover Floods KIDs activity booklet can be purchased from the Project WET store in April 2009 or obtained from Project WET at the 5th World Water Forum.

About Project WET

Since 1984, Project WET, an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has dedicated itself to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education.  Project WET achieves its mission of worldwide water education by:

• publishing water resource materials in several languages.
  
• providing training workshops on diverse water topics (i.e., watersheds, water quality, water conservation).
  
• organizing community water events, such as Make a Splash with Project WET water festivals and the Global Water Education Village™.
  
• building a worldwide network of educators, water resource professionals and scientists.

On the web at www.projectwet.org.

Hands-on water education materials are being adopted by Malawi schools to teach children the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene.

Bozeman, Montana, 02 Feb., 2009 – Project WET’s successful water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) education materials, developed in 2008 with funding from USAID, are being distributed to all 5,500 schools in Malawi.

The Malawi Ministry of Education, in partnership with UNICEF Malawi, has incorporated the Project WET hands-on WASH education materials into its new water curriculum project, impacting millions of students across the country in urban and rural schools. 

“Part of our initial project with USAID was to deliver the then-new WASH materials to schools in sub-Saharan Africa.  We received a resounding response – 2,700 schools in 29 countries requested the materials,” said John Etgen, Project WET senior vice president.

“Because we only had enough materials to meet the needs of 1,000 schools in 16 countries, the Malawi Ministry of Education and UNICEF Malawi created posters from two of the pages in one of our books.  This was a cost-effective solution that enabled Project WET to expand the reach of its WASH materials while addressing water curriculum needs in Malawi.”  

As a result of this project, millions of Malawian children will learn: 

• the importance of water in their daily lives.
• how to use clean water to stay healthy.
• techniques for preventing illness such as hand-washing and covering water sources to prevent malaria.

“Project WET made a commitment to develop education materials on water, sanitation, hygiene, and health (WASH) at a UNICEF-sponsored meeting in Oxford, England in 2006.  The Malawi Ministry of Education and UNICEF Malawi have enabled Project WET to further this commitment and expand its goal of educating people and saving lives in Africa,” said Dennis Nelson, Project WET President and CEO.

About Project WET

Since 1984, Project WET, an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has dedicated itself to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education.  Project WET achieves its mission of worldwide water education by:

• publishing water resource materials in several languages.
  
• providing training workshops on diverse water topics (i.e., watersheds, water quality, water conservation).
  
• organizing community water events, such as Make a Splash with Project WET water festivals and the Global Water Education Village™.
  
• building a worldwide network of educators, water resource professionals and scientists.

On the web at www.projectwet.org.

Media Contact:  Stephanie Kaleva

Bozeman, Mont, 30 Jan., 2009 – On March 16, Project WET will join more than 20,000 participants for a week-long dialogue on Bridging Divides for Water at the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul, Turkey. And, for the first time, the forum has made education a theme, joining five other priority topics.

As a result of its contributions to past World Water Forums, coupled with its global work and influence, Project WET was chosen to lead the forum’s education activities.

Held every three years, the World Water Forum is the world’s preeminent water event. Organized by the World Water Council, in collaboration with the host country, the forum aims to: 

• keep water at the top of the international agenda. 
• facilitate collaboration on water problems. 

The forum brings together the water community, as well as policy- and decision-makers to: 

• create links. 
• debate and attempt to share solutions and best practices. 
• achieve water security. 

“With a mission of reaching the world with water education, Project WET’s work in 42 countries on five continents has prepared it for this tremendous opportunity,” said Project WET President and CEO Dennis Nelson.

Project WET will convene several activities at the forum, including the Global Water Education Village™, which debuted at the 4th World Water Forum. The village’s purpose is to:

• highlight water education’s role and impact in communities around the world. 
• connect local solutions with the resolution of global water challenges. 

More than 35 organizations will participate in the village.

In addition, Project WET’s Water School will hold classes alongside the village. Here, Turkish teachers and students will participate in popular Project WET activities while providing participants an opportunity to witness education’s effectiveness in addressing water issues and empowering individuals to play a role in solving these issues.

Last, Project WET will convene the only special session that directly addresses education for school and children: “Building Bridges to the Future through Education about Water.”

A moderated panel will answer the question, “How can children and teachers be empowered to make a difference in their local water situations through their actions?”

Over 19,000 participated in the Global Water Education Village in 2006, and Project WET anticipates more than 25,000 will participate in 2009.

The Global Water Education Village and other related children’s activities are sponsored by Nestlé Waters and the Foundation of River, Environment and Watershed Management (FOREM), as well as Project WET Japan.

www.worldwaterforum5.org.

About Project WET

Since 1984, Project WET, an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has dedicated itself to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education.  Project WET achieves its mission of worldwide water education by:

• publishing water resource materials in several languages.
  
• providing training workshops on diverse water topics (i.e., watersheds, water quality, water conservation).
  
• organizing community water events, such as Make a Splash with Project WET water festivals and the Global Water Education Village™.
  
• building a worldwide network of educators, water resource professionals and scientists.

On the web at www.projectwet.org.

La Comisión Nacional del Agua (Conagua), conjuntamente con el Programa Hidrológico Internacional de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura (UNESCO) y la Fundación del Proyecto WET Internacional (Educación sobre Agua para Profesores), suscribieron un acuerdo con el objetivo de promover luna educación hídrica de alta calidad, especialmente para educadores formales y no formales en México.

Lo anterior permitirá a la Conagua ser la institución anfitriona en México del Programa “Agua y Educación para las Américas y el Caribe”, con lo que se espera realizar actividades de educación formal y no formal como talleres, desarrollo de material didáctico, eventos de divulgación, entre otras.

La firma del documento, que se llevó a cabo en el marco de la Semana Mundial del Agua de Estocolmo, Suecia, estuvo a cargo del Secretario del Programa Hidrológico Internacional de la UNESCO, Andras Szollosi-Naggy; el Presidente y Director de la Fundación WET, Dennis Nelson, y por la Coordinadora General de Atención Institucional, Comunicación y Cultura del Agua de la Conagua, Heidi Storsberg Montes.

El Programa conjunto “Agua y Educación para las Américas y el Caribe”, se constituyó en el marco del IV Foro Mundial del Agua, celebrado en México en marzo de 2006, para integrar los esfuerzos del Programa Hidrológico Internacional de la UNESCO y la Fundación del Proyecto WET Internacional, para lo cual firmaron un Memorándum de Entendimiento, el cual sirve como antecedente para todos aquellos países de la región que deseen aplicar el Programa.

El Programa Hidrológico Internacional de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura (UNESCO-PHI) es el programa científico intergubernamental de cooperación de la UNESCO en materia de recursos hídricos, que tiene por objetivo incrementar el conocimiento del ciclo del agua y aumentar la capacidad de las naciones para administrar y aprovechar mejor sus recursos hídricos y ecosistemas conexos.

La Fundación del Proyecto WET (Proyecto WET) es un programa internacional de educación sobre recursos hídricos, sin fines de lucro, con sede en Bozeman, Montana, Estados Unidos. Su misión consiste en llegar a niños, padres, educadores y comunidades del mundo, aportándoles una educación objetiva sobre el agua.

Su objetivo es proporcionar material educativo con fundamento científico, preciso y bien concebido, sobre recursos hídricos, así como cursos de capacitación y servicios de formación de redes a entidades u organismos especializados en agua y educación, para que los usen en el diseño, la elaboración y la ejecución de sus propias iniciativas locales.

Anteriormente, tanto el Proyecto WET como el PHI-UNESCO realizaron actividades en nuestro país, principalmente con el apoyo del Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua (IMTA), desde donde se coordinaron proyectos y llevaron a cabo actividades para docentes y niños en diferentes estados; se desarrolló una página web para difundir los avances del Programa; se desarrolló la “Guía General para Docentes de las Américas y el Caribe”; se coordinaron los trabajos para los libros “Descubre una Cuenca: el río Grande/Río Bravo” y “Descubre una Cuenca: Lago de Pátzcuaro”, así como la adaptación de la Guía ¡Encaucemos el Agua! (actividades para maestros, desde preescolar hasta preparatoria), entre otras.

El presente acuerdo se enmarca dentro del objetivo 5 del Programa Nacional Hídrico, mediante el que Conagua busca: ”consolidar la participación de los usuarios y la sociedad organizada en el manejo del agua y promover la cultura del buen uso”, tomando en cuenta la realidad del país y sus respectivas regiones hidrológicas; en este caso, a través de estrategias y actividades educativas y culturales de mayor alcance e impacto en la sociedad mexicana.

Bozeman, Mont., 04 Aug., 2008 - “Education is life,” a sign reads in the schoolyard of Ntinda Primary School in Kampala, Uganda.  In sub-Saharan Africa, where basic necessities, such as access to water, are difficult to obtain, education can empower people to develop healthful habits, to help control the spread of disease, to improve their health and well-being, and to ensure the future of their communities. 

In the fall of 2008, Project WET received funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to create and distribute educational resources addressing critical water topics, including hygiene and disease prevention materials. The USAID-Africa Education Initiative (AEI) is committed to improving educational opportunities for Africa’s children, especially girls and marginalized communities.

The Project WET Healthy Water, Healthy Habits, Healthy People resources include four water education components: a teacher module with 7 hands-on lesson plans, two Kids in Discovery (KIDs) series student activity booklets and an interactive poster. These colorful and fact-filled publications teach about water fundamentals, the connection between water and diseases, and what actions can be taken to stay healthy. The illustrations and text give instructions for effective hand washing, in addition to techniques for simple water purification.  They also promote the value of understanding and protecting water sources. The scarcity of water is a contributing factor for many of the health problems that face much of the population.  

Produced in French and English, the materials have reached over 830,000 students in 1,000 schools in 16 sub-Saharan countries.  Developed with participation from experts in education and water in Africa, the materials were distributed through partnerships with groups such as USAID, Ministries of Water and Education, WaterAid, Africare, Save the Children, the Centre Régional pour l'Eau Potable et l'Assainissement à faible coût (CREPA), Soft Power Education and others.

In the materials, basic health and hygiene skills are outlined, such as effective hand washing skills and identifying when hand washing should be practiced. This information is vital in reducing deaths caused by poor hygiene and inadequate preventative measures. Water’s connection to malaria is explained; along with steps people can take to protect themselves from the disease, such as covering up at night and sleeping under a mosquito net.  Knowledge of the connections between health issues and water usage prepares today’s students for a healthier tomorrow.  

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates diarrhea kills around 2.2 million people a year, worldwide. Basic hand washing could potentially reduce diarrhea episodes by 30% or 660,000 people each year. According to the 2008 WHO report, 91% of the estimated 881,000 deaths from malaria were in Africa, and 85% were children under 5 years of age. 

Education is vital to help reduce deaths from poor hygiene and insufficient preventative measures.  In Uganda alone, 76% of diseases are caused by poor hygiene and inadequate sanitation practices. 

“Project WET’s visionary initiative to help children gain an understanding of water and sanitation issues at an early age will go a long way in shaping future world leaders and water managers,”  Honorable Maria Mutagamba, Minister of Water and Environment, Uganda. 

About Project WET

Since 1984, Project WET, an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has dedicated itself to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education.  Project WET achieves its mission of worldwide water education by:

• publishing water resource materials in several languages.
  
• providing training workshops on diverse water topics (i.e., watersheds, water quality, water conservation).
  
• organizing community water events, such as Make a Splash with Project WET water festivals and the Global Water Education Village™.
  
• building a worldwide network of educators, water resource professionals and scientists.

On the web at www.projectwet.org.

Educational Program Recognized for Promoting Water Stewardship Through Science-Based Curriculum

Bozeman, Mont., 04 Aug., 2008 - The Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR) membership has selected the Project WET Foundation as a recipient of one of its prestigious 2008 Education and Public Service Awards. These awards are given to recognize educational institutions, individuals, groups or agencies that have made significant contributions to increase public awareness of water resources development, use or management. UCOWR, comprised of international experts in water research and management from leading universities and organizations, presented the award at the annual conference in July. 

Project WET President and CEO Dennis Nelson said, “We are honored to receive this award because the members of UCOWR include some of the most respected scientists and researchers in the world.”  

For 24 years, the Project WET Foundation has developed, published and provided original educational materials to more than 500,000 teachers in over 30 countries. The interactive, science-based curriculum offers opportunities for educators and students to experience hands-on water resource activities. The model, “train-the-trainer,” prepares more than 100 state- and country-level coordinators and 5,000 community-level facilitators to ultimately reach millions of students with valuable lessons in science and sustainable water resource management.

Project WET’s global network of 30 countries conducts more than 2,000 training workshops annually, reaching more than 30,000 school and community educators. Accurate, current scientific information is a vital component of the program’s effectiveness.  

John Etgen, senior vice president of the Project WET Foundation, said, “Project WET is known for its educational side, but we also are very dedicated to technical and scientific accuracy. To be recognized for the quality of our content by such a prestigious organization is very important to Project WET, including state and country coordinators, facilitators and teachers. 

Today’s children will be tomorrow’s leaders and policy-makers, influencing water usage and management across the globe. A good scientific foundation and fact-based information prepare them to make informed decisions for future generations. 

“We reach thousands of teachers, millions of students,” said Etgen. “For example, in sub-Sahara Africa, we’ll reach 800,000 students and 15,000 teachers at 1,000 schools this year alone. In Latin America and the Caribbean, through our UNESCO-International Hydrologic Program partnership, we have the potential to reach large numbers of educators and students throughout the region within the next 10 years.”

The 2008 UCOWR Conference, International Water Resources: Challenges for the 21st Century, addressed a variety of topics on water, such as water and human health in the developing world and water security and sustainability. It included two papers presented by the Project WET Foundation: “Best Practices for International Water Education: Case Studies from the Field,” and “Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) highlights from Arizona and Idaho,” presented by Kerry Schwartz and Julie Scanlin, both Project WET coordinators and employees of state water resources research centers.

About Project WET

Since 1984, Project WET, an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has dedicated itself to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education.  Project WET achieves its mission of worldwide water education by:

• publishing water resource materials in several languages.
  
• providing training workshops on diverse water topics (i.e., watersheds, water quality, water conservation).
  
• organizing community water events, such as Make a Splash with Project WET water festivals and the Global Water Education Village™.
  
• building a worldwide network of educators, water resource professionals and scientists.

On the web at www.projectwet.org.

About Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR)

UCOWR membership consists of over 90 universities and organizations throughout the world, which are involved in education, research, public service, international activities and information support for policy development related to water resources. Its annual conference provides a forum to explore key and timely topics of interest to water resources researchers and educators, and, in addition, UCOWR publishes the Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education, presenting both scholarly work and current water resources news. Online at www.ucowr.siu.edu.

To educate Bentonville fourth graders about water and their impact on its sustainability, Project WET and partners host an educational water festival around World Water Day.

Bentonville, Ark., 20 March, 2008 – On March 28, 2008, 360 fourth grade students from Centerton Gamble, Central Park, R.E. Baker, and Sugar Creek elementary schools in the Bentonville School District will attend Make a Splash with Project WET Sustainability 360 Festival at Old Tiger Stadium on Tiger Boulevard. Students will participate in six hands-on, interactive, fun activities learning about water quality, pollution prevention, the water cycle, watershed protection, erosion reduction, and water use and its management. The event is sponsored by Wal-Mart, Nestlé Waters North America (Nestlé Pure Life, Ozarka), Cargill, Del Monte Foods, and JohnsonDiversey.

“One of Project WET’s core beliefs is that an awareness of, and respect for, water resources can encourage a personal, lifelong commitment of responsibility and positive community participation. One of the ways we seek to provide students, parents, teachers, and communities with this knowledge and awareness is through Make a Splash with Project WET water festivals. Related to this specific Festival, we applaud the teachers, businesses, and community of Bentonville for their commitment to water education and the preservation, conservation, and management of local water resources for future generations,” said Dennis Nelson, Project WET Foundation President and CEO.

Volunteers from the Arkansas Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS), Wal-Mart, Nestlé Waters North America, and Cargill participated in a four-hour training in February, becoming familiar with the Project WET method of teaching. This group of volunteers then will lead students through the six water-related activities at the Festival on March 28. Del Monte Foods, Johnson Diversey, the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and General Mills also will participate on event day.

Two hundred and twenty-six students will attend a morning session beginning at 8:50 am and complete six activities by noon; the remaining 112 will attend an afternoon session beginning at 12 noon and complete the activities by 2:30 pm.

According to Kim Jeffery, President and CEO, Nestlé Waters North America, “Nestlé Waters North America is committed to the communities in which we work and live, and the environment that sustains all of us. Early on, we dedicated ourselves to teaching future generations about the importance of our water resources and the need to protect and preserve them. By participating in Project WET activities at this Festival, today’s students - tomorrow’s leaders - will view water not only as a shared resource but also as a shared responsibility.” 

Notes:

World Water Day occurs each year in March.

Individual sponsors’ commitments to environmental stewardship and sustainability can be found on their respective websites. 

Wal-mart: www.walmartstores.com 

Nestlé Waters North America: www.nestle-watersna.com 

Cargill: www.cargill.com 

Del Monte Foods: www.delmonte.com 

JohnsonDiversey: www.johnsondiversey.com 

About Project WET

Since 1984, Project WET, an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has dedicated itself to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education.  Project WET achieves its mission of worldwide water education by:

• publishing water resource materials in several languages.
  
• providing training workshops on diverse water topics (i.e., watersheds, water quality, water conservation).
  
• organizing community water events, such as Make a Splash with Project WET water festivals and the Global Water Education Village™.
  
• building a worldwide network of educators, water resource professionals and scientists.

On the web at www.projectwet.org.

Bozeman, Mont. 09 Oct., 2007 – To encourage watershed-based, action-oriented education, the Project WET Foundation provided grants to 13 organizations conducting watershed education using the Discover a Watershed: The Colorado Educators Guide and other Project WET materials.

The goal of the program is to link lessons in the Discover a Watershed: The Colorado Educators Guide and other Project WET publications with local actions that lead to solutions. Project WET refers to this approach as ActionEducation™.  Through this project, participants learn about the Colorado River Watershed through Project WET activities, and then put their knowledge into action and, as a result, make a difference by addressing local issues.

Grant recipients and their projects appear below:

1) Sonoran Institute, Tucson, Ariz. and Vado Carranza, Mexico

Education: Teach graduate students about area’s environmental history and current restoration activities.

Action: Graduate students work at restoration site in Colorado River Delta in Mexico to develop site design and help local community children plant native trees at site.

2) School District 1, Yuma, Ariz.

Education: Conduct a two-day educator training workshop, focusing on Colorado River Delta, individual stewardship, and community involvement.

Action: Teachers tour city water treatment facility, Dole produce plant, the United States Bureau of Reclamation desalinization plant, and the East Wetlands Park restoration area.  At East Wetlands Park, participants engage in wetland restoration project.

3) Satori Charter School, Tucson, Ariz.

Education: Teach about local and regional watersheds.

Action: Students take field trips to the Sweetwater Ground Water Recharge Facility and Audubon Wetlands where they participate in field studies and collect data in the Rillito River wash measuring water tables.  Students then plan a water festival and teach students, parents, and community members about water stewardship. The Watershed Management Group also provides an environmental educator to work with the class to build a rainwater harvesting system for the school, and, at the festival, the educator teaches students, parents, and community members how to build rainwater harvesting systems for home.

4) Colorado Project WET/Colorado Watershed Network, Breckenridge, Colo.

Education: Hold a watershed conference featuring a six hour educator training workshop.

Action: Participants identify and remove noxious weeds from a wetland area and replant native plant species.

5) City of Flagstaff, Ariz.

Education: Water conservation water festival for 1,000 4th grade students and their teachers.

Action: After participating in the festival, students conduct water audits at home. The audits are collected by teachers and returned to the City of Flagstaff for analysis and use in the City’s water conservation education and planning efforts.

6) Pronatura Noroeste Sonora, Mexico and Baja California, Mexico

Education: Educate teachers about the Colorado River and its Delta.

Action: Educators design a project to involve their students in local community wetlands conservation and restoration activities.

7) Mosaic Academy Charter School, Aztec, N.M.

Education: Educate students about the region’s geology, the dynamics of deposition and erosion, and the formation of fossils in river sediment rock formations in their area

Action: Students use GPS and digital cameras to record the location of fossil sites and build a database, create maps, etc., with a focus on stewardship of these resources.  The goal of the project is to have students learn GPS technology and resource mapping techniques and build a GIS database of significant fossil sites (mostly undocumented) in the area in order to help preserve them. The data collection is coordinated with databases developed by BLM and the NM Museum of Natural History and Science and shared with these institutions

8) Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Ariz.

Education: Provide future educators with the tools needed to teach about water resources in the classroom.

Action: Future educators teach children in area schools as part of their required coursework.  Participating classrooms’ teachers evaluate the future educators’ performance.

9) University of Nevada – Las Vegas Public Lands Institute and Clark County School District, Las Vegas, Nev.

Education: Two all-day field trips.

Action: Students measure habitat parameters for quagga mussels (water temperature, pH, water clarity, and plankton) to determine if Lake Mead provides the conditions needed for this invasive species to thrive. They also look for evidence of the mussels. After investigating the impacts of the mussels on the Lake Mead environment, the students devise a management strategy focusing on preventing the spread of quagga mussels to other waterways and reporting their recommendations to the National Park Service and Nevada Department of Wildlife. Students also develop a video highlighting the quagga mussel invasion of Lake Mead and what individuals can do to help stop the spread.  

10) Willow Bend Environmental Education Center, Flagstaff, Ariz.

Education: Educate children about water resources in preparation for a service learning project.

Action:  Students work with Willow Bend and Native Movement Southwest staff to install a rainwater harvesting system and drip irrigation system for a new Native Edibles Garden at Willow Bend Environmental Center.  Students also help plant the garden.

11) Cherry Creek Stewardship Partners, Denver, Colo.

Education: Two-day workshop with field sessions.

Action: Teachers participate in a local wetland restoration project by creating a vegetation and habitat monitoring program and implement it with students and local Home Owners Association.

12) CEDES (Comisión de Ecología y Desarrallo Sustentable del Estado de Sonora), Riito, Mexico and Sonora, Mexico

Education: Prepare students for a field trip through the Colorado River Delta from the international border to the Gulf of California.

Action: Students learn about the Colorado River Delta’s ecology and work in several areas to clean up trash and remove tamarisk.

13) City of Gallup, N.M.

Education: Water conservation festival for students and teachers with educational activities taking place in the classroom prior to the festival.  

Action: Students participating in the festival conduct home water audits, and the data collected is used by the City of Gallup in water conservation planning and education.

About Project WET

Since 1984, Project WET, an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has dedicated itself to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education.  Project WET achieves its mission of worldwide water education by:

• publishing water resource materials in several languages.
  
• providing training workshops on diverse water topics (i.e., watersheds, water quality, water conservation).
  
• organizing community water events, such as Make a Splash with Project WET water festivals and the Global Water Education Village™.
  
• building a worldwide network of educators, water resource professionals and scientists.

On the web at www.projectwet.org.

Arizona Conserve Water publication to impact more than 100,000 Arizona students in the next five years.

Bozeman, Mont. and Tucson/Phoenix, Ariz., 06 June, 2007 – In 2005, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano called for a statewide water conservation effort to help strengthen a “culture of conservation” in the state. After hearing Governor Napolitano’s call for action, the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR), the Bureau of Reclamation’s Phoenix Area Office (Reclamation), and Arizona Project WET contacted the Project WET Foundation, an organization dedicated to teaching the world about water, to discuss the development of a teachers’ guide to educate Arizona students about water conservation.  The three organizations had been working together since 2001 to create water education tools for Arizona’s educators.  Given this history of collaborative partnerships and the need for additional water specific educator resources, the organizations felt the Project WET curriculum and pedagogy could, if adapted and localized to meet Arizona’s specific needs, significantly contribute to statewide water conservation efforts.

ADWR and Reclamation’s Phoenix Area Office formed a new partnership to fund the creation of Arizona Conserve Water and worked with Arizona Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) at the University of Arizona’s Water Resources Research Center and the Project WET Foundation, based in Bozeman, Mont., on the coordination, management, and publication of the guide. 

Project WET publications are unique because each is created through the collaboration of scientists, water managers, academicians, and educators.  According to Marjie Risk, ADWR’s Statewide Water Conservation Coordinator, “The development of Arizona Conserve Water brought together more than 75 key stakeholders – representing a variety of perspectives – who participated in curriculum development workshops and reviewed the guide.  Additionally, teachers across the state tested drafts of the lessons in their classrooms. The publication of this book embodies Arizona’s commitment to water conservation.”

Beginning in June 2007, Arizona Project WET will conduct teacher training workshops, introducing K-12 teachers to Arizona Conserve Water. Designed with the needs of Arizona’s teachers in mind, all activities in the book were correlated to Arizona Academic Standards.  As a result, over the next five years, more than 100,000 students will complete activities in Arizona Conserve Water.  By participating in Arizona Conserve Water activities, these students - future leaders and policy makers – will be challenged to conserve water at a personal level

“We are proud of our partnership with Arizona and applaud Governor Napolitano, ADWR, Reclamation, and Project WET Arizona for their vision,” said Project WET Foundation President and CEO Dennis Nelson.

This 350-page, full-color book includes background information on Arizona’s water situation, 15 interactive, multi-disciplinary lessons, and 10 Arizona case studies.  Arizona Conserve Water can be ordered online at http://store.projectwet.org.

About Project WET

Since 1984, Project WET, an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has dedicated itself to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education.  Project WET achieves its mission of worldwide water education by:

• publishing water resource materials in several languages.
  
• providing training workshops on diverse water topics (i.e., watersheds, water quality, water conservation).
  
• organizing community water events, such as Make a Splash with Project WET water festivals and the Global Water Education Village™.
  
• building a worldwide network of educators, water resource professionals and scientists.

On the web at www.projectwet.org.

Arizona Project WET promotes responsible stewardship through excellent and effective water education.  Arizona Project WET is a comprehensive teacher-tested water education program meeting district, teacher and student needs through partnerships across the state. http://cals.arizona.edu/AZWATER/wet/  

The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) works to secure long-term dependable water supplies for Arizona's communities. Created in 1980, ADWR administers Arizona’s landmark Groundwater Management Code and represents the state in discussions with the other six states bordering on the Colorado River.  ADWR also is at the forefront of statewide water planning and conservation.   www.azwater.gov

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has been involved in the critical issue of water development in Arizona since 1902. Working with the state of Arizona and other partners, the Phoenix Area Office has helped the state of Arizona move forward with its water management goals.  The results, accomplishments such as the Salt River Project and the Central Arizona Project, have helped with the delivery and management of water resources.  Yet, in the 21^st century, water supply remains at the forefront of planning issues.   As the agency created to design and build many of this nation’s water projects, and as the largest water wholesaler in the country, water conservation is one of Reclamation’s top priorities.  We believe that with the help of water users throughout the West, more efficient water use by everyone will help meet much of the increasing demand for water.  http://www.usbr.gov/lc/phoenix/

Project WET, Ducks Unlimited Partner to Prepare Today’s Children, Tomorrow’s Leaders and Policy Makers, to Make Informed Decisions about Wetlands Conservation

Bozeman, Mont., 17 April, 2007 – Many people are unaware of the tremendous value wetlands provide to the environment. In an effort to conserve these valuable places, Ducks Unlimited and Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) have partnered to reach children with wetlands education, instilling in them an appreciation of wetlands.  With this appreciation, today’s children, tomorrow’s conservation leaders, will be able to make informed decisions about wetlands conservation.  

Ducks Unlimited and Project WET will use Project Webfoot, a Ducks Unlimited program launched in 2005, as the vehicle for reaching children with wetlands education.  In communities across the nation, children’s classrooms participate in Project Webfoot through the support of local businesses, corporations, foundations, and individuals.  Sponsored Project Webfoot classrooms receive wetlands education material from Ducks Unlimited, and then Project WET will train the teacher to use the materials.  The Project WET U.S.A. Network, which has coordinators in all 50 states, will make it possible for teachers in every town in the U.S.A. to receive Project Webfoot training.  The two organizations will also collaborate to develop and publish new wetlands education material for distribution through the Project Webfoot program.  

According to Gregg Patterson, Ducks Unlimited Director of Communications, “Given the reach of its delivery network and its expertise in water resource curriculum development and workshop facilitation, Project WET was the ideal partner for helping grow and strengthen the Project Webfoot program.”  

Leading Project Webfoot and Ducks Unlimited’s Youth and Education program is former Project WET U.S.A. Network Coordinator Rab Cummings.  Before joining Ducks Unlimited, Cummings coordinated the 50-state Project WET USA network of water educators, which serves over 25,000 educators annually with professional development workshops on water, wetlands, and water quality. He also coordinated Make-a-Splash with Project WET, the largest one-day water education event in the country.

Project WET President and CEO Dennis Nelson said, “Project WET has been committed to wetlands education since its inception in 1984.  By partnering with Ducks Unlimited, we will increase the number of children, educators, and communities we reach with water education.  This partnership will allow both organizations to further their respective missions while creating life-long wetlands stewards.”