For immediate release: April 17, 2007

Media Contact:    Stephanie Kaleva

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.”