Design and Implementation of a Research-Informed Water Conservation Education Program

Abstract

Informed by the results of a baseline research study of regional citizen knowledge and understanding concerning watershed issues, a team of university faculty and classroom teachers designed and implemented a water conservation education program to address lacking areas of watershed knowledge. The authors developed age-appropriate, hands-on lessons, aligned with local and national educational standards, for an audience of school-aged children (5–10 years), which was representative of the surveyed population. The authors present the results of the baseline watershed survey, a description of the implemented educational program, and how the program was received. Responses to the water conservation education program (as ascertained by teacher participant evaluations and student participant commitments) suggest involvement in the educational program may positively effect current and future water conservation behaviors.