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Open the Outdoors
Winner of the 2012 U.S. Water Prize
- Contact information
- For information on Project WILD, contact:
- DNRPltWildWet@wisconsin.gov
608-264-6280
Project WET
Project WET stands for Water Education for Teachers. Wisconsin values its water resources! With almost 15,000 lakes, 33,000 miles of rivers and streams and 5.3 million acres of wetlands within its borders, Wisconsin needs to protect these waterways. Project WET is a nonprofit water education program and publisher for educators and young people ages 5-18. The program is organized nationally, but delivered on a statewide basis. It is designed to facilitate and promote awareness, appreciation, knowledge and stewardship of water resources through the dissemination of classroom-ready teaching aids.
Project WET believes that:
Water moves through living and nonliving systems and binds them together in a complex web of life.
Water of sufficient quality and quantity is important for all water users.
Wise water management is crucial for providing tomorrow's children with social and economic stability in a healthy environment.
Awareness of and respect for water resources can encourage a personal, lifelong commitment of responsibility and positive community participation.
Download these free resources from Project WET:
- three sample Project WET activities on "healthy hydration" now.
- When Should You Wash Your Hands coloring page and Poster
What Project WET offers
The core of the program is the Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide (Grades K-12), a collection of water-related, fun, hands-on and easy-to-use activities. The 90-plus activities incorporate a variety of formats such as large and small group learning, laboratory investigations, discussion of local and global topics, and involvement in community service projects. Supplementary resources are available to complement and enrich many of the activities.
How Project WET works
Project WET believes in training. People are introduced to Project WET materials at workshops conducted by a statewide network of facilitators in Wisconsin. We can match you with a facilitator in your area. A Project WET Workshop is an exciting, engaging and powerful learning experience, where educators of all disciplines receive the latest Project WET materials, learn to teach water education activities and walk away inspired.
Schedule a workshop
Schedule a Workshop in your community:
Anyone can host and attend a workshop! Select a local teacher, nature center staff member, scout leader, parent or you, as a local coordinator to make workshop arrangements.
- Contact the nearest instructor.
- Select a workshop date and location. Locations should allow for using the outdoors as a classroom.
- Market the program locally and recruit a minimum of 10 participants.
Benefits
- Workshop coordinators receive one FREE enrollment to the workshop that they help organize.
- Requires less travel.
- Provides opportunities to emphasize local resources.
- Can be targeted to specific grade levels or groups.
Other Workshop Options
- Register for a scheduled workshop
Workshop fees
Single Workshops
Project WET (6 hours) - $25.00
Combined workshops
Project Learning Tree & Project WET (8 hours) - $35.00
Project Learning Tree, Project WILD & Project WET (12 hours) - $65.00
Graduate credit can be arranged for combined courses upon request.
Resources
Wisconsin water education resources
- Wisconsin Watershed Poster Series: Do you know which watershed you live in? Find out with these beautiful education posters about Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, and the Mississippi River watersheds complete with a Project WET activity on the back.
- Groundwater Education Materials and training
- Youth Water Education Resources [exit DNR]
- Citizen-based Monitoring Network of Wisconsin [exit DNR]
- Wisconsin Great Lakes Education Clearinghouse [exit DNR]
- Wisconsin Environmental Education Resources Library: Water Quality [exit DNR]
Wisconsin Water Topics
- Coping with the Drought
- Project WET drought Lesson for Teachers
- Water Use - Sustaining Wisconsin's Water Wealth
- Great Lakes
- Aquatic Invasive Species Education
- Pharmaceutical management efforts
National water education resources for teachers
Water education resources for students
Become a trainer
Trainer = facilitator
A facilitator is someone who is certified to conduct program workshops. Facilitators help workshop participants, usually educators, gain an understanding of how to use the Project materials. Facilitators involved workshop participants in activities so they will become familiar with the materials and use them after the workshop to educate students in grades PreK-12.
Primary facilitator responsibilities
- Attend a facilitator training for the program you want to facilitate
- Conduct at least one workshop per year to remain an active facilitator
- Structure a positive, hands-on workshop experience that allows each member of the group to participate in activities, motivates each participant to use the program materials in his/her educational setting, and so far as possible, achieves each person's reason for being at the workshop.
- Complete and submit all necessary workshop paperwork to the state office no less than three weeks after a workshop
- Collect and submit payments to the state office within the designated timeframe following a workshop
- Participate in continuing facilitator education events annually
- Promote and present the program information locally to the best of your abilities.
Facilitator qualifications
To adequately perform the above responsibilities, facilitators need to:
- be objective and knowledgeable in your presentation of the materials and in environmental education
- represent the program and the DNR in a professional manner
- be motivated and able to dedicate the time to organize and conduct high quality workshops in your area
- have speaking and teaching skills adequate to conduct interactive and engaging workshops
- show enthusiasm in environmental and conservation education to inspire others to use the course materials.
Application process
- become trained in the program you want to teach and become familiar with the materials by using the activities with a variety of audiences;
- submit an application (request an application at dnrpltwildwet@wisconsin.gov)
- potential candidates will be contacted to attend a two day training session;
- alternatively, potential candidates may be trained through an approved mentorship option;
- once a facilitator has been trained, she or he will receive a certificate and be ready to conduct workshops;
- to remain in active status, certified facilitators must use their training and conduct at least one workshop per year;
