Water Education Resources

The following educational resources can help you build environmental stewardship in the Vermillion River Watershed among kids and adults alike.

Interactive displays

We have interactive displays available for your classroom or community events. You can check out these educational tools for one week, free of charge, by emailing Brita Moore-Kutz or calling her at 952-891-7967 and arranging pickup.

• Pollute or Protect
• Streets to Streams
• EnviroScape
• Your Street Connects to Lakes and Rivers
• Pollution Jars
• Smart Salting

Watershed Game

VRWJPO owns a copy of the Watershed Game, created by the University of Minnesota Sea Grant. The game is geared towards community leaders to simulate the decision-making process of protecting a local stream, with financial limitations built in. Contact Brita if you’re interested in using the game.

Project WET

Project WET (Water Education for Today) is an international, interdisciplinary, water-science education program used by a variety of water users. It is estimated over 20,000 Minnesotans annually use the Project WET resources in a variety of ways, complementing other watershed programming.

This hands-on program is administered through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) by the MN Project WET Coordinator. This award-winning curriculum is an exceptional resource for Minnesotans.

Online K-12 resources

The Hamline University Center for Global Environmental Education provides a series of digital lessons about stormwater stewardship and how our waterways connect to the seas. Whether for classroom or virtual learning, these can help kids find things they can do to protect water.

VRWJPO Zoom backgrounds

• Summer
• Winter

Infographics

Post these on your social media accounts or e-newsletters.

• Earth Friendly Landscaping
• Improving Water Quality
• Irrigation Efficiency
• Planting for Pollinators

Activities for Kids

• Color Sheets
• Activities

Metro Area Children’s Water Festival

We support the Metro Area Children’s Water Festival, an annual event produced for fourth graders in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The festival teaches students about water resources and ways to protect them. Students visit hands-on learning stations staffed by environmental experts, attend the Science Museum of Minnesota presentation, and enjoy the Water Arcade. The festival is usually held the last Wednesday in September at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and has been held virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. A small in-person festival will be held in 2022.

Teachers need to register for the opportunity to participate, though the virtual festival is free and available anytime. The Children’s Water Festival website contains the registration form, plus information on how to sponsor or volunteer. Every year, schools within the Vermillion River Watershed have attended the festival.

EPA’s Environmental Education

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a dedicated Environmental Education (EE) section. Visit their website for lesson plans, grant opportunities, and more.

Webinars on environmental education from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Planet Stewards.

CitizenScience.gov, a list of more than 200 citizen-science projects for students and adults, with a toolkit for people looking to design and maintain their own local projects.

More resources: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/watermgmt_section/appropriations/water-conservation-education.html