Water Education Task Force

CFWE is the home

of the Colorado Water Education Task Force. This Task Force, composed of education experts in Colorado, serves as a forum for collaboration and coordination between Colorado's water education and information providers.

The Task Force also coordinates the implementation of the Colorado Water Conservation Board's 2008 report on water education in Colorado. This assessment included a set of recommendations to address the opportunities and threats to effective water education.

The Task Force meets on a regular basis to discuss water education efforts. In 2009, the Task Force began implementing the report's recommendations when it commented on the Colorado Department of Education's inclusion of water resource content and stewardship skills into the K-12 Model Content Standards.

If you are interested in learning more about this effort or want to be placed on the group's email list, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Partnerships Workshop

On February 19, 2010, CFWE hosted an all-day workshop for seasoned water educators. Download the minutes of this meeting to read how we explored collaborations to make water education more Partnerships Workshop effective in Colorado. The workshop produced four "workgroups" below, each of which identified sustainable funding and coalition building as top priorities.

- Media Campaign, which has formed into the 2012 Year of Water program

- Teacher Institute, which created the Colorado Headwaters Institute planning committee

- Curriculum Integration

- Evaluation & Assessment

Water Education Techniques Workshops

CFWE is a partner in the Sustaining Colorado Watersheds annual conference. The event is typically held in Vail over the first week of October. Prior to the conference, we host a workshop on water education techniques that have demonstrated successful outcomes. You can attend the workshop without registering for the full conference. Please contact Kristin Maharg at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 303.377.4433 for more information.

2010 Workshop:

"Building Broad Public Participation" will be a forum to discuss how to engage diverse participants in your water education and outreach programs.

We hope you can join us on Tuesday, October 5 from 8:30am - 12:00pm at the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa.

Download detailed agenda

Register here

"Teaching Water Outside the Classroom" was the 2009 water education techniques workshop to discuss the current opportunities and challenges to K-12 water education in Colorado. Nearly 50 water educators from across the state attended to gain an understanding of current water activities and methods that educators can incorporate into their own communities:

Curry Rosato of the City of Boulder and Martha Moore of the Colorado River Water Conservation District discussed best practices in organizing regional water festivals and offered resources on how to develop a local water festival in your community. Their presentation can be viewed here.
Judy Lopez of the Rio Grande Watershed Association of Conservation Districts coordinates a program that trains schoolteachers on water resource issues, inspiring them to implement a comprehensive water education package in their own classrooms. Her presentation can be viewed here. Theresa Springer of the Coalition for the Upper South Platte discussed how Project Learning Tree is a great environmental education tool for teachers as well.
Natalie Brower-Kirton of Aurora Water facilitated a panel discussion on how to build an effective water education program in your school district. Participants learned how to become a valuable resource for teachers through creative classroom presentations and field trips. The panel members were Mark Shively (Douglas County Water Resource Authority), Tracy Bouvette (Great Western Institute), Rob Buirgy and Matt Bond (Denver Water) and Herb Saperstone (Poudre School District). Their presentation can be viewed here.
Jean Van Pelt of Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District shared a couple fun songs that the Pueblo West High School choir and drama club presented at the Pueblo Children's Water Festival.

Support Water Education

Become a Member or Make a Donation

Support for the Colorado Foundation for Water Education is tax-deductible and provides numerous benefits, including discounts on publications and event registrations. Your membership supports development of new publications, outreach efforts across the state, and critical operational needs.

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Water Education Task Force