Introduction and Overview

U.S.A.

“We believe in the power of education and we believethat it should start out at an early age . . . when taught early, children can understand the importance of water and can bring that knowledge to those surrounding them.”

Youth Vision StatementSecond World Water ForumThe HagueMarch 17-22, 2000

Project WETProject WET

Project WET (Water Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) Education for Teachers) is an international, is an international, interdisciplinary, interdisciplinary, water education program for water education program for formal and nonformal formal and nonformal educators of students ages 5 educators of students ages 5 to 18to 18

The Mission of Project WET is to reach Children,

Parents, Educators and Communities of the World with Water Education

Worldwide Programs:Worldwide Programs:

Project WET USAProject WET USA Project WET CanadaProject WET Canada Project WET MexicoProject WET Mexico Project WET PhilippinesProject WET Philippines Project WET US Peace Project WET US Peace

CorpsCorps

Over 50 additional countries Over 50 additional countries around the world have around the world have expressed interest in expressed interest in partnering with Project partnering with Project WET.WET.

Project WET Materials and TrainingProject WET Materials and Training

Assist learners of all ages to Assist learners of all ages to develop…develop…

Awareness, knowledge, skills & Awareness, knowledge, skills & commitmentcommitment

That result in…That result in… Informed decisionsInformed decisions Responsible behaviorResponsible behavior Constructive actionsConstructive actions

Through…Through… Hands-on, self contained and easy to Hands-on, self contained and easy to

use water education resourcesuse water education resources

Project WET is grounded in the Project WET is grounded in the following beliefs:following beliefs:

Water moves through living and nonliving systems and binds them Water moves through living and nonliving systems and binds them together in a complex web of life.together in a complex web of life.

Water is important for all water users.Water is important for all water users.

Sustainable water management is crucial for social and economic stability Sustainable water management is crucial for social and economic stability and a healthy environment.and a healthy environment.

Awareness of and respect for water resources can encourage a personal, Awareness of and respect for water resources can encourage a personal, lifelong commitment of responsibility and positive community lifelong commitment of responsibility and positive community participation.participation.

Interdisciplinary and SupplementalInterdisciplinary and Supplemental

Math

Art

Health/PE

MusicLanguage

Arts

Science

Social Studies

Educational Educational StagesStages

AWARENESS(appreciation)

KNOWLEDGE(understanding)

ATTITUDE(values & feelings)

SKILL(identify problems)

PARTICIPATION(acquire experience and take action)

SOLUTIONS TO WATER RESOURCE PROBLEMS

Project WET teaches HOW to think Project WET teaches HOW to think not WHAT to thinknot WHAT to think

Make Informed DecisionsMake Informed Decisions

Present Facts ∙ Maintain Objectivity ∙ Provide GuidancePresent Facts ∙ Maintain Objectivity ∙ Provide Guidance

Evaluate ChoicesEvaluate Choices

Who uses Project WET?Who uses Project WET?Classroom teachers, public/private schools

Resource agencyeducators

Preschool anddaycare teachers

Museum, nature andscience center instructors

UniversityProfessors

Youth OrganizationLeaders

Local, state andNational park rangersand interpreters

What do state Project WET What do state Project WET programs offer to educators?programs offer to educators?

Project WET Curriculum Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide and Activity Guide training training workshopsworkshops

Advanced workshops that Advanced workshops that focus on ground water, focus on ground water, water conservation, water conservation, wetlands, water quality, wetlands, water quality, human health, and other human health, and other water topicswater topics

AnnualAnnual Make a Splash with Make a Splash with Project WETProject WET National Day National Day of Water Education of Water Education FestivalsFestivals

College credit workshopsCollege credit workshops

The Project WET USA Program is:The Project WET USA Program is:

I. The I. The Project WET Project WET Curriculum and Activity Curriculum and Activity GuideGuide

II. A Training NetworkII. A Training Network

III. Support ServicesIII. Support Services

I.The CurriculumI.The Curriculum

The The Project WET Project WET Curriculum and Activity Curriculum and Activity Guide Guide is the core is the core educators guide.educators guide.

It is supplemented by It is supplemented by additional programs and additional programs and publications developed publications developed by Project WET.by Project WET.

TheThe Project WET Curriculum and Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide is:Activity Guide is:

91 activities developed by over 91 activities developed by over 350 teachers, resource 350 teachers, resource managers, and scientists and managers, and scientists and tested by 600 teachers and tested by 600 teachers and 35,000 students35,000 students

InteractiveInteractive Non-biasedNon-biased InterdisciplinaryInterdisciplinary Available only to participants Available only to participants

who complete a minimum of who complete a minimum of six-hours of trainingsix-hours of training

Organization of the Project WET Organization of the Project WET Curriculum and Activity GuideCurriculum and Activity Guide

Teaching Strategies.Teaching Strategies. Water has unique physical and chemical Water has unique physical and chemical

characteristics.characteristics. Water is essential for all life to exist.Water is essential for all life to exist. Water connects all Earth systems.Water connects all Earth systems. Water is a natural resource.Water is a natural resource. Water resources are managed.Water resources are managed. Water resources exist within social constructs.Water resources exist within social constructs. Water resources exist within cultural constructs.Water resources exist within cultural constructs.

A Wide Variety of Additional A Wide Variety of Additional Materials Provide Support Materials Provide Support

II. Project WET Coordinator NetworkII. Project WET Coordinator Network

A Highly Effective Delivery Network A Highly Effective Delivery Network for Information and Educationfor Information and Education

Consisting of…Consisting of…

69 Coordinators and 69 Coordinators and Co-Coordinators from Co-Coordinators from 50 US States and 50 US States and TerritoriesTerritories

3000 Facilitators3000 Facilitators

Coordinators work for… Coordinators work for…

Fish and Game Fish and Game AgenciesAgencies

UniversitiesUniversities Parks and Nature Parks and Nature

CentersCenters State Departments of State Departments of

EducationEducation NGOsNGOs

Facilitators are…Facilitators are…

TeachersTeachers VolunteersVolunteers ParentsParents Park and Nature Center Park and Nature Center

EmployeesEmployees Water Resource Water Resource

ProfessionalsProfessionals People with a People with a

commitment to water commitment to water educationeducation

US Coordinators and International Project WET Program US Coordinators and International Project WET Program Directors are connected through the International Office, Directors are connected through the International Office, Bozeman, MT, USABozeman, MT, USA

Annual Conference brings together Coordinators and Directors Annual Conference brings together Coordinators and Directors to share ideas and strategiesto share ideas and strategies

Advanced Coordinator training opportunities are offered yearly Advanced Coordinator training opportunities are offered yearly to build skills in specific areas (e.g., water quality testing, issues to build skills in specific areas (e.g., water quality testing, issues analysis, water conservation)analysis, water conservation)

State Coordinators publish articles in the annual Project WET State Coordinators publish articles in the annual Project WET USA magazineUSA magazine

III. Support ServicesIII. Support Services All Project WET states, provinces, and countries All Project WET states, provinces, and countries

have access to other publications and Project have access to other publications and Project WET programs.WET programs.

projectwet.orgprojectwet.org

Background MaterialsBackground Materials Teacher ResourcesTeacher Resources Sample MaterialsSample Materials Secure Online Ordering Secure Online Ordering

of Books and Materialsof Books and Materials Nationwide Contact Nationwide Contact

InformationInformation Water Festival SupportWater Festival Support Links Links

Ohio Water Education Program (OWEP)Ohio Water Education Program (OWEP) OWEP CollaboratorsOWEP Collaborators

Ohio Department of Natural ResourcesOhio Department of Natural Resources OSU Water Resources CenterOSU Water Resources Center Water Management Association of Ohio/Water Water Management Association of Ohio/Water

Resources Foundation of OhioResources Foundation of Ohio Ohio Environmental Protection AgencyOhio Environmental Protection Agency

Ohio Coordinator-Greg NageotteOhio Coordinator-Greg Nageotte

For more information contact:For more information contact:

GREG NAGEOTTEGREG NAGEOTTE

(614) 265-6619(614) 265-6619

greg.nageotte@dnr.state.oh.usgreg.nageotte@dnr.state.oh.us

U.S.A.

Coordinators Network

is supported in part by:

NORTH AMERICA