Water Education Programs offer hands-on learning

By Greg Thomas
General Manager
Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District

As the 2020-2021 school year comes to a close, many teachers, parents, and students find themselves reflecting on the unique circumstances this year held. It can be easy to focus on the challenges, but there were also countless victories.

Students learned to mute themselves on Zoom meetings and the chaotic roar of voices was brought under control.

Teachers found innovative ways to create hands-on learning opportunities in the distance learning environment.

Parents juggled a myriad of new responsibilities and somehow made it through in one piece.

At Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District (EVMWD), which provides water to almost all of Canyon Lake’s households and leases the water surface to the Canyon Lake POA, we too experienced victories in our K-12 education efforts. Our commitment to helping students explore the world of water remained unchanged, even as the education landscape was significantly altered.

Over the past year, EVMWD continued to offer virtual tours of its Regional water reclamation facility and associated water quality laboratory. The platform allowed students to see behind-the-scenes footage and then participate in live Q&A with operators, expanding their knowledge of testing and treatment processes.

In addition, numerous educators received special funding from EVMWD to pursue water education projects. These teachers were able to facilitate class studies on water quality, environmental impacts, conservation, and more. The opportunity to participate in hands-on projects was invaluable for students, as it provided a needed escape from screen fatigue. More than 450 students benefited from these projects.

Fan-favorite programs such as the Water Is Life poster contest and water education assemblies continued with safety modifications, providing fun learning experiences for K-5 students. The two programs reached over 2,400 elementary students.

EVMWD staff also worked hard to create new opportunities for students. Partnerships with local teachers resulted in customized presentations and class projects hosted by skilled District staff. In July, EVMWD will be co-hosting a Summer Learning Lab focused on STEM in public utilities, bringing industry experts and high school students together for an intense week of learning.

Each one of these experiences – and the many left unmentioned – demonstrates the resiliency of EVMWD staff, local teachers, and students. This school year, while challenging, still held countless victories. And as our community moves forward with high hopes for the coming fall, EVMWD remains committed to advancing water education efforts.  Visit www.evmwd.com/education to learn more!