Empowering Watershed Stewardship in Local Schools: The Wonders of Watersheds Program

By Watershed Stewards Program Corpsmember Lizzie Bear, San Francisco Bay Area Network Salmonid Monitoring Program

Students at Manor Elementary School review a watershed model they created.

Manor Elementary School / Elizabeth Cole

Students at Lagunitas Elementary School participate in a salmon dissection as part of their Wonders of Watersheds! Series.

Lagunitas Elementary School / Alex Cusick

March 2023 - Every year, Watershed Stewards Program (WSP) Corpsmembers teach an educational series on watershed stewardship and environmental science in local classrooms. The Wonders of Watersheds (WOW!) curriculum provides Title I 2nd-6th grade classrooms with quality lessons to help students understand their local environments. The series consists of five 80-minute interactive lessons covering topics such as “The Life of a Salmon,” “Biodiversity for Healthy Environments,” “Human Impacts and Interactions with Watersheds,” “Water is Finite,” and “Environmental Interdependence.”

This unique opportunity aims to bridge the gap between scientific professionals and students, parents, and communities. By fostering curiosity, understanding, and appreciation for the natural world among the next generation, WSP Corpsmembers promote stewardship and continued restoration of salmonid populations and watersheds. Catherine and I are wrapping up the WOW! series in our respective classrooms, a combined 4/5th grade class at Lagunitas Elementary School in West Marin and a 3rd grade class at Manor Elementary School in Fairfax.

Some highlights from the classes include a salmon dissection, native plant propagation, and macroinvertebrate sampling. Students are certainly learning a lot about their local watersheds, conservation concerns, and how to become better environmental stewards. We are excited to see how well the kids comprehended the subject matter as we prepare our final lessons and grade post-tests!

For more information

• San Francisco Bay Area Network Salmonid Monitoring webpage
• Pacific Coast Science & Learning Center Coho & Steelhead webpage
  • San Francisco Bay Area Coho and Steelhead Blog
• Contact Fishery Biologist Michael Reichmuth

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