Phase I: 1984 — 1989. Project WET created (one state)

The Project WET program was established in 1984 by the North Dakota State Water Commission in the agency’s planning division to educate the public about water resources and its management. Based on significant interest from teachers and young adults, the commission focused part of its education efforts on reaching children through teachers and informal educators. Project WET’s mission, goal, core beliefs and first activities were created in North Dakota.

Phase II: 1989 — 2005. Research and development, publishing and Project WET network expansion (all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., 19 countries)

In 1989, the director of Project WET North Dakota was invited by Montana State University, using funding from the United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), to pilot the Project WET program in Montana, Idaho and later Arizona. The success of this multi-state pilot initiative led to a decision by the BOR to fund the development and publication of the Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide (1995) and establishment of the Project WET USA network in all 50 states and Washington D.C. Project WET published over 50 water education guides and books for children and teachers between 1995 and 2005 and launched and expanded the Project WET international network to include 19 countries. Project WET left Montana State University June 30, 2005 to form an independent foundation.

Phase III: 2005 — present. Project WET Foundation

The Project WET Foundation was established on July 1, 2005 as a 501(c)(3) organization. The Foundation will continue to develop and implement Project WET worldwide. The Project WET Foundation is located in Bozeman, Montana, USA. Project WET is supported annually by the thousands of individuals and organizations who purchase Project WET materials, grants and contracts from public and private sector donors and founding global sponsors Nestlé Waters and Valerie Gates.