Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
T
Connecting people, businesses, and communities through local groundwater education and action, making us all part of the solution for clean, sustainable groundwater.
INSIDE...2 This and That | 5 Awesome Aquifers | 6 Trusting Science in Natural Resource Management | 8 Think During Groundwater Awareness Week | 9 2018 Kremer Award | 10 6 Ways to Educate Kids About Groundwater
u..
Volume 33 Number 3 | Winter 2019
he bright lights of Las Vegas provided the backdrop for the National Ground Water
Association’s (NGWA) 2018 Groundwater Week, the groundwater industry’s biggest show.
The Groundwater Foundation merged with the NGWA Foundation in the summer of 2018, making Groundwater Week a great opportunity to introduce the Foundation and our work to NGWA’s members and constituents.
From meeting NGWA’s talented and energetic staff to seeing new water well technology and hearing the latest research, Groundwater Foundation staff came away from the week impressed, energized, and excited about the future of this partnership.
“Groundwater Week was an excellent experience on so many levels,” said Foundation Executive Director Jane Griffin.
Groundwater Foundation staff led a workshop as part of Groundwater Week’s Summit. It focused on the importance of community involvement in groundwater protection and highlighted how the Groundwater Guardian and Groundwater Guardian Green Site programs can facilitate this process. The workshop also addressed the importance of educating the next generation of groundwater industry leaders and shared several tools and resources available from the Groundwater Foundation.
A silent auction was held throughout the week to raise money for the Foundation’s programs. It was fun to
u See VEGAS, p. 4
What a Groundwater WeekGroundwater Industry’s Biggest Trade Show Hit Las Vegasby Jennifer Wemhoff, Groundwater Foundation
www.groundwater.org
A PUBLICATION OF THE GROUNDWATER FOUNDATION
p Groundwater Foundation Executive Director Jane Griffin addresses participants in a workshop about ways to get communities involved in groundwater protection at 2018 Groundwater Week in Las Vegas.
visit with attendees as they stopped by to check out the auction items and share more about our work. It culminated with a live auction at the Delegates Meeting, which featured prizes like a Columbia River Fishing Adventure, a signed Carlos Santana guitar, a Cleveland Indians baseball experience, and more. All told, the auctions raised $48,700!
“Visiting the Exhibit Hall to see and learn about the equipment and technology the industry has developed and deploys, the vast assortment of learning opportunities, and the
opportunity to network with so many professionals in the industry provided a fulfilling and inspiring week,” said Griffin.
Program Manager Sara Brock echoed the sentiment, saying “Groundwater Week was an amazing opportunity to connect with experienced groundwater professionals. I learned a lot about regional groundwater concerns and how the industry is growing to combat challenges of quantity and quality.
Visit www.groundwaterweek.com to learn more.S
2 Volume 33 Number 3 | www.groundwater.org
THIS & THAT�..
Scholarship Programs Available
Two Groundwater Foundation scholarship programs are available to help students pursuing careers in the groundwater industry.
Len AssAnte schoLArship progrAmThe Len Assante Scholarship
Program was developed to nurture and support those who wish to pursue and advance careers involving the protection, distribution, remediation, and responsible utilization of groundwater resources.
Scholarships are for full-time students only (including high school seniors who are applying for scholarships to be used in their first quarter or semester of post-secondary study).
Len Assante Scholarship applicants must be enrolled in a program that is groundwater industry-related, including (but not limited to):
• hydrogeology• water resource management• water well construction and
supply• geology
Scholarship amounts are dependent on available funds annually.
The application period for the Len Assante Scholarship Program opens February 1, 2019 and all applications must be submitted by April 15, 2019.
Find the downloadable scholarship application form and information on the Groundwater Foundation’s website at www.groundwater.org/scholarships.
FArvoLden schoLArshipsFarvolden Scholarships are made
in memory of Robert Farvolden of the University of Waterloo and former National Ground Water Association Director of Science and Technology.
Farvolden Scholarships are for full-time students that submit an abstract for a poster/platform presentation at NGWA’s Groundwater Week Summit. All such students whose abstracts are accepted for presentation will be evaluated at the event by two or more judges. The four students with the highest scores will receive the Farvolden Scholarships.
Farvolden Scholarship applicants must be enrolled in a program that is groundwater industry-related, including (but not limited to):
• hydrogeology• water resource management• water well construction and
supply• geology
Four $500 Farvolden Scholarships are awarded annually.
To apply, poster session proposals must be submitted by April 21, 2019 at www.groundwaterweek.com.
Farvolden Scholarships are made possible by support from S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc.
If you have any questions about either the Len Assante Scholarship Program or Farvolden Scholarship Program, please contact the Groundwater Foundation at 402-434-2740 or email [email protected] .S
t A student presents a poster session at the National Ground Water Association’s Groundwater Week Summit as part of a Farvolden Scholarship application.
Request A Free Copy of the Well Owners Guide
Do you have a water well? Do you know someone who has a water well? If so, make sure you get a copy of the Well Owners Guide.
The Guide is a comprehensive information piece for consumers with nearly everything you could ever want to know about water wells.
Packed with detailed, easy-to-understand information, the Guide addresses:
• Well construction• Well maintenance• Water testing• Water treatment• Groundwater protection
The guide takes consumers step-by-step through getting a well drilled, hiring a qualified groundwater professional, how wells work, following a maintenance schedule, abandoning old wells, how to get the well water tested, options for water treatment for various contaminants, and how well owners can protect groundwater.
Contact Aaron Martin at the National Ground Water Association to request your free copy of the Well Owners Guide today. Call 1-800-551-7379 extension 1564 or email [email protected]
JOIN OR RENEW! WWW.GROUNDWATER.ORG/MEMBER
p Participants network with Sentators and other WHPN members. q 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Coordinator Carla McCullough speaks about opportunities to equip communites with the resources they need to protect local groundwater resources.
www.groundwater.org | Volume 33 Number 3 3
THIS & THAT�..
A Warning for the World’s Groundwater Reserves
Researchers at Cardiff University in Wales, United Kingdom, along with international collaborators have a stark warning about climate change’s impact on groundwater and what it could mean for future generations.
Groundwater is the largest available store of global freshwater and is relied upon by more than two billion people.
According to the study’s lead researcher Dr. Mark Cuthbert of Cardiff’s School of Earth and Ocean Sciences and Water Research Institute, “Our research shows that groundwater systems take a lot longer to respond to climate change than surface water, with only half of the world’s groundwater flows responding
Nebraska Wellhead Protection Network Holds Annual Legislative Breakfast
The Nebraska Wellhead Protection Network (WHPN) Groundwater Education Legislative Breakfast took place at the Ferguson House in Lincoln, Nebraska on January 10, 2019. The annual event is an opportunity for Nebraska State Senators and their staff to learn about and discuss wellhead protection and groundwater issues with WHPN members.
Carla McCullough, 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Coordinator with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ), spoke briefly about the opportunities provided by NDEQ to equip municipalities, water operators, and producers with the resources they need to protect groundwater. McCullough shared updates about the Source Water Programs in place to protect drinking water, the voluntary adoption of best management practices (BMPs) by farmers and producers, and the innovative use of 319 federal funding to address nitrate pollution and groundwater quality. Additionally, McCullough discussed the Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) competition which encourages scientists, producers, industry people, agriculture students, government regulators, and agency personnel to promote efficiency and profitability in farming practices. Competitors aim to maximize efficiency, yield, and profitability by managing an area of cropland through a growing season. Using their own recommended BMPs, NDEQ was the 2018 winner of the most profitable farm category.
Packets containing prints of the poster displays, information on water protection programs, and resources from NDEQ and the Groundwater Foundation were provided for every senator, including those not in attendance.
For more information about the WHPN, visit www.groundwater.org/whpn .S
fully within ‘human’ timescales of 100 years.”
What does this mean? “This means that in many parts of the world, changes in groundwater flows due to climate change could have a very long legacy,” said Cuthbert.
“This could be described as an environmental time bomb because any climate change impacts on recharge occurring now, will only fully impact the baseflow to rivers and wetalnds a long time later.”
The study, which was published in the journal Nature and Climate Change, used groundwater model results in combination with hydrologic datasets to determine the dynamic timescales under which groundwater systems respond to climate change.
In many parts of the world, particularly where surface water supplies aren’t readily available, groundwater
is the only option for household water needs.
In general, they found that in wetter, more humid locations groundwater may respond to changes in climate in a shorter timeframe compared to arid locations where water is scarcer and groundwater has a naturally longer response time.
Questions still remain about how groundwater specifically will be impacted by current and future climate change, and where and when any changes may take place.
“It is essential that the potential for these initially hiden impacts is recognized when developing water management policies, or climate change adaptation strategies for future generations.”
Find out more at http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/news/view/1421604-warning-for-worlds-groundwater-reserves.S
u VEGAS, continued from p. 1
Booth visitors play
a ring toss game
Engaging students with the Awesome Aquifers activity
NGWA CEO Terry Morse and outgoing board President David Henrich watch during the live auction
Attendees learn about the Foundation and Silent Auction items
Booth visitors could also Putt for Groundwater
Inspirational speaker J.R.R. Martinez gives a Keynote Address
4 Volume 33 Number 3 | www.groundwater.org
tudents, educators, and water well contractors learned about groundwater firsthand during
a presentation of the Awesome Aquifer Kits at the 2018 Groundwater Week.
A group of students from the Las Vegas area attended the session, then had the chance to learn more about the groundwater industry, technology, and careers.
Southern Nevada Water Authority’s (SNWA) Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is made up of high school students in grades 10-12 who have been appointed by their principals to represent their school. The YAC is a forum for the students to learn about and research local water-related issues, as well as participate in and implement water-focused community projects. The students that participated in Groundwater Week started their tenure on the YAC in early October.
The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) worked with the Groundwater Foundation and its partners to set up this session in the Groundwater Week Exhibit Hall Activity Area.
“We wanted to engage young people to nurture an interest in groundwater,” said Kathy Butcher, NGWA’s Director of Learning and Knowledge. “If they already had an interest in groundwater, we wanted to be able to share with them ways they can pursue a career in the groundwater industry.”
Since October, the YAC had spent most of their time learning about the
SNWA’s programs and projects. They learned the basics of what groundwater is and where it comes from by learning about the groundwater and natural springs in the Las Vegas Valley.
Abigail Phillips works in the Education Department at the Springs Preserve where she serves as the advisor of the YAC. She recruits students, plans meetings, schedules speakers and tours, and facilitates projects with the help of partners like SNWA.
“I think environmental education is extremely important,” said Phillips. “It gives students an opportunity to learn about and influence real world issues beyond the classroom.”
Phillips said participating in Groundwater Week was a perfect opportunity for students to gain a strong understanding of the importance of water and water-related concerns.
“Water is a precious resource, especially in Southern Nevada. These students are our future workers, leaders, homeowners, etc. and it’s important for them to learn where our water comes from, which includes groundwater,” said Phillips.
Groundwater Foundation Program Manager Sara Brock led the students through the Awesome Aquifer activity, which has them fill a clean plastic box with gravel, add water to it to see the water table and saturated and unsaturated zones, drill a well and pump it, demonstrate the relationship between groundwater and surface water, and see how groundwater can become contaminated.
After they worked through the Awesome Aquifer Kits, students were grouped together with various groundwater industry representatives, including water well contractors, scientists, and engineers, to tour the Exhibit Hall.
Students enjoyed the whole experience and came away with a better appreciation for groundwater and the groundwater industry. Student Cameran shared “Groundwater is a big part of what we use when it comes to water, and it’s not taught about much.” Student Tatum said “I learned a lot about aquifers and well systems. I even took back some information to my geoscience class.”
Phillips thinks the experience helped students realize how vital groundwater is to their everyday lives. It was also a chance for NGWA to begin to foster the next generation of groundwater professionals.
“This gave NGWA an opportunity to connect with an age level that we wouldn’t normally have an oppporutniy to connect with,” said Butcher.
“Students are in a classroom all day, every day,” said Phillips. “Hands-on learning in the midst of a bustling conference is exciting and informative for them. They very much enjoyed getting their hands dirty by creating their own aquifer system and touring with groundwater experts who treated them like colleagues instead of teenagers.”
For more information about the Awesome Aquifer Kit or to get your own, visit www.groundwater.org .S
S
Awesome Aquifers!Las Vegas Students Participate in Groundwater Week
by Jennifer Wemhoff, Groundwater Foundation
www.groundwater.org | Volume 33 Number 3 5
A s much as I, a trained scientist, would like to imagine that good science leads directly to
sound policy, I am aware that this isn’t the case. We can’t just pump science coins into the policy machine and get out policies that reflect what the science tells us; policy making is simply not that straightforward. Economics, law, and public opinion also play their parts in the development of policy and, as is often the case, rank higher than the physical sciences as fields sought for advice during policy development. However, the need to account for things like economics doesn’t wholly account for the existing or perceived tension between policy makers and scientists, and that tension is worth exploring.
This tension comes in several forms but I’m going to focus on mistrust or wholesale dismissal of science and scientists. Further, there is a laundry list of things that undermine trust in science that includes but certainly isn’t limited to 1. industries promoting distrust through the use of skeptics (such as with climate change science), 2. media framing (such that skeptics or non-experts are given equal weight as experts even though that is not representative of the scientific community), and 3. confirmation-bias or information filtering (in general but specifically on the internet where it is so easy to keep away from information that does not agree with your own world view). Confirmation bias and information filtering are some of the strongest influences on whether or not we trust
any new information that comes to us, whether scientific or not. This is especially prevalent given how easy it is to tailor our information sources online: you can pick where you get your news so that it supports your world view, you can unfollow friends on Facebook if they say things you don’t agree with. We filter information actively and passively all the time. I’ll talk about this a bit more below, but first let’s talk about trust.
What is “trust” in the context of science and scientifically-derived information? Trust is roughly equated with “belief” and implies faith without need to further investigate. This is problematic to me because within the scientific community a critical eye is important, that’s why we have a peer review process before results are
Trusting Science in Natural Resource ManagementUsing Science to Make Sound Management Decisions Isn’t as Clear-Cut as it Should Beby Kate Tillotson, PhD
6 Volume 33 Number 3 | www.groundwater.org
published. Despite scientific results being inherently provisional, that is up for being overturned or having caveats added by future work, at some point study becomes redundant because results are conclusive or are, rather, within acceptable limits of uncertainty. This applies all across natural resource management, whether it is monitoring water quality issues or tracking the loss of an endangered species: at some point cause and effect are known, the end point is clear, and action is the next step. But action requires trust in the science.
I think Marcia McNutt (current president of the National Academy of Sciences, former editor-in-chief of Science and 15th director of the U.S. Geological Survey) said it best when she said, “Science is not a body of facts, science is a method for deciding whether what we choose to believe has a basis in the laws of nature or not.” This is absolutely true for many people. However, I recognize that people tend to rely on personal experience or anecdotes more than on science and statistics and while anecdotes are grounded in the real world they are interpreted by humans who occasionally make exciting and wildly incorrect assumptions about how the world works. This is especially true when the science and statistics are counter-intuitive, counters our personal experience, or is not something we have experienced: if the information doesn’t confirm our understanding of the situation it is really easy to ignore. In managing freshwater for a quality issue that you can’t see or smell, it is difficult to convince anyone that it is an issue
until they experience the repercussions of that issue first hand.
When science is conclusive but policy makers or lay people want to continue to study it or simply don’t believe the results, it is worth asking why this is the case. Is it because the science doesn’t agree with what they think it should say? Is it telling us something we don’t want to hear? Is it because the information is unfamiliar, the methods used to get the information, or why the information should be relevant is unclear? Ultimately, it’s important to look at why we don’t agree with the results.
trust And AdvocAcyWhen the scientific community sees
something as clearly factual, when do we get involved and advocate? This is a question we tangle with as a group and as individuals. There is a lot to be said for remaining impartial and hoping that sound science and good science communication will lead to sound decisions, but communicating results and interpreting data for public consumption by translating from jargon to be understandable to someone outside of the field of study pushes scientists into the public realm. Often, as scientists, we take our training for granted when discussing scientific matters with the public, which includes individuals who may not have the same level of training. It is arguably our obligation to not only make the process transparent but also to demystify the results. It is easier to trust something you understand than to place trust in unknown jargon. Further, trust in science is increased when it is heard from a
source that is trustworthy. When a third party is not available to communicate science to policy makers or lay people it often falls to scientists to advocate for their findings. This is often the case when scientists work for policy makers and especially the case when they also take part in carrying out policies that are developed, to whatever degree, from their research. This is the case in Nebraska for many of the Natural Resources Districts.
Blurring the line between scientist and policy maker in circumstances where scientists also take part in policy development and enforcement is worthy of acknowledgement. Just as it is important for policy makers to recognize and acknowledge when they fulfilling their role as decision-maker and when they are advocating for their constituents or for themselves, it is important for scientists to recognize and acknowledge when they are fulfilling their role as scientist and when they are advocating. It is also worthy of note that while policy makers and scientists can both make bad decisions or act in their own best interest, the hope is that there are professional guidelines or checks and balances.S
About the AuthorKate Tillotson earned her PhD in
Environmental Science and Natural Resources Management with a focused on environmental communication and water management from Washington State University in 2015. She is the past water resources manager for Upper Elkhorn Natural Resources District in Nebraska.
www.groundwater.org | Volume 33 Number 3 7
We cAn’t just pump science coins into the poLicy mAchine
And get out poLicies thAt reFLect WhAt the science teLLs
us; poLicy mAking is simpLy not thAt strAightForWArd.
he 20th anniversary of National Groundwater Awareness Week (#GWAW) will be recognized
March 10-16, 2019.Sponsored by the National Ground
Water Association (NGWA), #GWAW is an annual observance that highlights the responsible development, management, and use of groundwater. The event is also a platform to encourage yearly water well testing and well maintenance.
The 2019 theme, Think, urges each of us to consider various ways we can protect our most valuable natural resource. So Think about not running the water while you brush your teeth. Or Think about getting that leaking faucet fixed. Think about the farmers that rely on groundwater to grow the food we eat. And Think about having your well inspected to protect your drinking water system. In short, during #GWAW, Think about our future.
“Groundwater is important to so many parts of our daily lives - it’s the water we drink, grows our food, and nourishes our communities,” said Groundwater Foundation President Jane Griffin. “I urge everyone to truly Think about the impact groundwater has on your life everyday, what it would look like without groundwater, and what you can do to protect it.”
Approximately 132 million Americans rely on groundwater for drinking water. It is used for irrigation, livestock, manufacturing, mining,
thermoelectric power, and several additional purposes, making it one of the most widely used and valuable natural resources we have. Consider the following facts:
• Each day, Americans use 79.6 billion gallons of groundwater.
• Groundwater is 20 to 30 times larger than all U.S. lakes, streams, and rivers combined.
• 44 percent of the U.S. population depends on groundwater for its drinking water supply.
• More than 13.2 million households have their own well, representing 34 million people.
get invoLvedIn the weeks leading up to #GWAW,
NGWA and the Groundwater Foundation encourage everyone to become official “groundwater protectors” by taking steps to conserve and protect the resource. Businesses, individuals, educators, students, federal agencies, cities, associations, and everyone in between can ask to be added to NGWA’s groundwater protector list through its website or on social media.
Take it a step further and get something going in your community - organize a Groundwater Guardian team to tackle local issues, help a local business or green space become a Green Site by documenting site maintenance practices related to water,
do a fun activity with students to help them understand groundwater, or help do all these things by becoming a member of the Groundwater Foundation.
resources
On NGWA’s #GWAW site, (www.ngwa.org/gwaw2019) you can find a toolkit with downloadable and shareable materials to spread the word, including:
• Suggested social media posts (just copy and share!)
• List of facts about groundwater• #GWAW FAQ• Logos and graphics including
email header, social media images, printable groundwater protector icon, and more
• Press release to share with local media or government officials
You can also find resources on the Groundwater Foundation’s website (www.groundwater.org) to help you:
• Become a Groundwater Guardian
• Get involved with Green Sites• Find activity ideas and
instructions, games, and more to get youth excited about groundwater
Now’s the time to Think about groundwater and act to protect it now and for future generations.S
Think About the Future During Groundwater Awareness WeekNational Awareness Week Marks 20 Years in 2019
T
Source: EPA
8 Volume 33 Number 3 | www.groundwater.org
A Career Protecting GroundwaterDuane Eversoll to Receive 2018 Maurice Kremer Award
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT�..
www.groundwater.org | Volume 33 Number 3 9
uane Eversoll, retired Associate Director of the University of Nebraska Conservation and
Survey Division (CSD) and Professor Emeritus in the School of Natural Resources, has been selected to receive the 2018 Maurice Kremer Groundwater Achievement Award. Eversoll will be presented with the award at the Maurice Kremer Memorial Lecture at 3:30 p.m. on February 27 in the Hardin Hall Auditorium (room 107) on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus (corner Holdrege and 33rd Streets). Light refreshments will be served at 3:00.
The Kremer Award is presented annually by the Groundwater Foundation to an outstanding Nebraskan who has made a substantive contribution to the conservation and protection of Nebraska’s groundwater.
“Duane has a long history of sharing groundwater information with anyone and everyone,” said Groundwater Foundation President Jane Griffin. “His career demonstrates his deep commitment to protecting the groundwater resources of Nebraska. On behalf of all of us at the Groundwater Foundation, it’s an honor to recognize Duane with the Kremer Award.”
The Kremer Award is chosen each year by a selection committee appointed by the Groundwater Foundation’s Board of Directors. It is named for Senator Maurice Kremer, who spent 20 years in the Nebraska Legislature where he was best known for his contributions toward protecting the state’s water resources, earning him the nickname “Mr. Water.”
Eversoll is a native of Grand Island, Nebraska and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1958 with a degree in Geology. After
working in the oil and gas industry for Continental Oil in Oklahoma, he returned to Nebraska and joined the Nebraska Department of Roads as a geologist. There he was instrumental in the design and development of water well and septic systems at rest stops in the state, while working with water well contractors on the professional design of a complete water well system.
Eversoll joined the University of Nebraska’s Conservation and Survey Division (CSD) in 1974. When the Nebraska Water Well Licensing Board was formed in 1984, Eversoll was appointed to the board to represent CSD. He became Associate Director in 1989.
He provides expertise to citizens and companies in locating private water wells and encouraging designs that not only meet legal requirements, but protect
D
2017: Jack Daniel
2016: Tom Carlson
2015: Susan Seacrest
2014: Robert Kuzelka
2013: Ron Bishop
2012: Dayle Williamson
2011: Lee Orton
2010: J. Michael Jess
2009: Vance Anderson
2008: Ann Bleed
2007: Jim Cook
2006: Ed Schrock
2005: Roger Patterson
2004: Darrell Watts
2003: Chris Beutler
2002: Eugene Haarberg
2001: Jim Goeke
2000: Wayne Madsen
1999: Richard Harnsberger
1998: Les Sheffield
1997: Robert B. Daugherty
1996: Frank A. Smith
1995: Fred Salmon and Family
1994: Virginia Smith
1993: Robert B. Crosby
1992: Ted Filipi
1991: Ralph Marlette
1990: Warren Fairchild
1989: Val Kuska
1988: Eugene Reed
1987: Maurice Kremer
1986: Vincent Dreeszen
groundwater. He also leads geological seminars and field trips to provide continuing education about geology and hydrogeology of Nebraska for water well professionals.
The Kremer selection committee unanimously selected Duane for the award. Committee memer and past Kremer recipient Lee Orton said, “Duane’s career exemplifies his deep dedication to educating people and protecting groundwater. Even in retirement, Duane continues to demonstrate his interest enhancing and improving the professionalism of the water well and onsite wastewater industries and their service to all Nebraska.”
For more information about the Maurice Kremer Groundwater Achievement Award, please visit www.groundwater.org/kremer .S
PAST KREMER AWARD WINNERS
The AquiferVol. 33, No. 3 Winter 2019
© 2019 The Groundwater Foundation. All rights reserved. Reproduction of material permitted for non-commercial use with full attribution to copyright owner.
The Groundwater Foundation3201 Pioneers Blvd. Suite 105 | Lincoln, NE 68502
Phone: 402-434-2740 Email: [email protected]: www.groundwater.org
Founded in 1985, the Groundwater Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operated by the National Ground Water Association that connects people, businesses, and communities through local groundwater education and action, making us all part of the solution for clean, sustainable groundwater.
The Aquifer is a registered trademark of the Groundwater Foundation and is published quarterly. The views expressed in articles appearing in The Aquifer are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the view of The Groundwater Foundation, National Ground Water Association, board of directors, or individual members.
GROUNDWATER FOUNDATION STAFFJane Griffin, PresidentJennifer Wemhoff, Aquifer Editor, Program Communications ManagerSara Brock, Program Manager
BOARD OF DIRECTORSChris BarnettMarion County Wellfield Education Corporation | Lawrence, IN
Andy Belanger, Board PresidentSouthern Nevada Water Authority | Las Vegas, NV
Scott Fowler, CWD/PIDahlman Pump & Well Drilling Inc. | Burlington, WA
Jane Griffin, Ex Officio, Executive DirectorThe Groundwater Foundation | Lincoln, NE
Jon HansenTacoma Pump & Drilling Company, Inc. | Graham, WA
David Hargis, PhD, RGHargis + Associates | San Diego, CA
Dave Henrich, Ex Officio Bergerson-Caswell Inc. | Maple Plain, MN
Paul Humes, CFONGWA | Westerville, OH
Terry Morse, Ex Officio, CEONGWA | Westerville, OH
Brian Snelton, Ex OfficioLayne Christensen Company | Aurora, IL
Christine SpitzleyOHM Advisors | Livonia, MI
Darren SiekmanValmont Irrigation | Valley, NE
Jeffrey Williams, MGWC, CVCLD, President-ElectSpafford and Sons Water Wells | Jericho, VT
10 Volume 33 Number 3 | www.groundwater.org
6 Ways to Educate Kids About GroundwaterToday’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders and decision-makers. Helping them under-stand groundwater, and their role in protecting it, is an important part of the work we do. Plus, it’s fun!
1. mAke it hAnds-on.“I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand.” Kids learn and retain much more when learning in an experiential setting, rather than passively receiving information. The Groundwater Foundation has an Educator Toolkit as well as a searchable library full of fun, hands-on educational activities, resources, and curriculum on our website.
2. disguise the LeArning As pLAy.Kids don’t realize they’re learning about turbidity when they’re squishing their toes in a muddy pond, or about stormwater when they’re painting a rain barrel. Incorporating elements of learning into elements of play makes kids forget something is “educational.”
3. send the messAge home.Make and take activities (they make something as part of the educational event, then take the item home) are great ways to ensure the message goes home. Growing with Groundwater and Water Cycle Bracelets are great examples of make and take activities.
4. mAke the messAge simpLe, AppLicAbLe, And ActionAbLe.Kids want to do something, and get
excited about making a difference. A simple message - you can protect groundwater - is enough, especially if you give ideas for what they can do. Every kid can shut the water off when they brush their teeth!
5. mAke demonstrAtions engAging.Hands-on activities are best, but can be made even better when combined with a fun, engaging demonstration. Get kids involved in the demonstration in some way - adding contaminants to Frannie’s water bowl or pointing out the water table in an Awesome Aquifer Kit.
6. do it more thAn once.A one-time exposure to groundwater education is better than nothing, but experience has taught us that there can be a greater impact if the same message is presented to the same group multiple times. For example, present an activity with a group in the fall, then build on the same concepts in the winter and spring.
It’s all of our responsibility to protect groundwater. Part of that is making sure the next generation of stewards have the knowledge and tools to become thoughtful and effective decision-makers in the future. For more information or to find activity ideas, visit www.groundwater.org/kids .S
