RCD offers handson water science for educators

Project WET's online training supports distance learning of Solano County water for K-12 students

In a state facing a future with an already overextended water supply, it is important to realize that every drop counts.

For leaders of the Solano Resource Conservation District, that simple truth is an essential element of their educational activities.

Based in Dixon, the district recently partnered with the Project WET Foundation to provide a five-hour online teacher training for 11 Solano County teachers earlier this month.

The educators participated in individual handson water activities adapted for distance learning and learned about in-classroom resources offered through the project and the Solano Water Education Program.

Andrew Florendo, water conservation coordinator for Solano County Water Agency in Vacaville, made a presentation about the county’s water resources and the current programs the county has in place to support water conservation.

Teachers were provided information about the variety of assistance and incentive programs the agency offers as well as details about the 2021 Water Awareness Video Contest targeting middle and high school students, which is accepting entries until April 14. (For more information about the contest, visit www. scwa2.com.)

Saturday’s virtual training provided relevant water education information and examples to participating teachers, using methods refined over the last year.

The training included activities designed for all ages as well as grade-appropriate lessons, Marianne Butler, the RCD’s education director, said in a press release.

The training included break-out topics for teachers to discuss and to share experiences and tips with their peers and learn techniques others have incorporated into their lessons, she added in the prepared statement.

By all accounts, the teachers learned a lot about water at a local level and will pass on to their students, seeing how the information directly affects them and their lives, Butler said, adding that one educator said it provided a foundation for more learning and encouraged curiosity and team work.

All educators received a free curriculum guide, including content aligned with the state’s Next Generation Science Standards for all subject areas, online access to the Project WET online teacher portal, more than six professional development hours, and a curriculum manual.

Solano RCD is a nonregulatory special district to the state of California that works to protect, restore, and enhance Solano County watersheds through its diverse education, restoration, and partnership efforts.

For more information, visit solanorcd.org or call 678-1655.