About the Healthy Waters Institute

Successfully launched in fall 2005, HWI invites students to participate in discovery-based watershed experiences through a dynamic toolkit of education programs directly linked to current curricula, state mandated and inquiry-based learning standards.

Education Programs

HWI builds its program delivery around four question-based programs:
• 1000 Drops — what happens to the water that lands on your roof?
• Hometown Waters — where does it come from, where does it go?
• Salmon Watch — how healthy are local rivers for salmon?
• Independent Projects — students engaged in local service projects.

Student & Teacher Outreach

HWI provides resources to support teachers and students through:
• Biannual healthy waters journal and kids publication.
• Dynamic website to facilitate sharing of ideas.
• Structural support for a student summit.
• Reimbursement for transportation and substitutes.
• Loaner equipment for measuring and monitoring.
• Education grants for independent projects.

Community Partnerships

Local partners are essential to HWI. Communities are engaged through:
• Development of a local leadership team.
• Collaboration with natural resource education providers.
• Recruitment and training volunteers.
• Support for local events.
• Communication with students about internship and job opportunities.

Our approach towards moving youth from student to steward involves two steps.

1. Invitation: Introduce students to their local watershed.

2. Engagement: Support students engaging in projects towards the maintenance and preservation of their local watershed.

We want to provide all students with the opportunity to experience their local watershed. It is our optimistic expectation that this connection will provide the first step in developing in students a lifelong, caretaking bond towards their local watershed. While we recognize that not all students who connect with their local watershed will move to stewards, we want to ensure that we are collectively providing them with a comprehensive foundation of awareness and knowledge of local watershed concepts from which they can envision, construct and participate in projects. By uniting education, community, and local stewardship, HWI takes an active role in cultivating the next generation of watershed stewards.

Please explore our site to find out more about the Healthy Waters Institute and HWI pilot watersheds around the state.