The Mighty Mississippi
Title:Living in close proximity to the river
Subtitle:The Mississippi River is one of the world’s great rivers. Flowing through, or bordering ten states in the USA, it has played an important part in the cultural, economic, and social fabric of life on the North American continent for as long as people have roamed the land. Today, the river remains the lifeblood of many communities in the region, supporting local agriculture, providing a source of safe drinking water, and serving as a vital artery for commercial transportation and trade.
This made it the perfect location to launch the first USA-based Swarovski Foundation Waterschool project back in 2016, with official partner National Great River Research and Education Center (NGRREC).
The Waterschool USA Program
Title:Located near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, the Waterschool USA program works with local communities to reconnect students and teachers to their local waterways. The program seeks to raise awareness and understanding of how people living along and within the Mississippi River watershed are connected to and reliant on a healthy, functioning river ecosystem.
By fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the river’s ecological significance through a range of immersive activities, the program also aims to inspire positive change and encourage responsible community engagement – not only for the benefit of local communities, but for the watershed as a whole.
Camp Waterschool
Title:Be a watershed ecologist
Subtitle:
Camp Waterschool offers students and their mentors the opportunity to spend a week immersed in the role of a watershed ecologist. During the camp, participants engage in a variety of science exploration and nature immersion activities such as water quality sampling, stream walks, storm drain stenciling, and river trips, as well as arts and crafts and outdoor adventures. These activities help foster critical thinking and a deeper commitment to conservation.
教育工作者研討會
Title:提升對水資源和環境保護的認知
Subtitle:
每一年，美國 Waterschool 都會舉辦一系列的教育工作者研討會，向教師傳授必要的知識、工具和資源，以便將與水資源有關的主題納入教學課程。透過讓課堂學習和社區科學活動之間有了密切的連結，這些研討會有助於激發學生的好奇心，提升他們對水資源和環境問題的認知。
持續的影響力
Title:美國 Waterschool 計畫自創立以來產生了重大影響。
Subtitle:為伊利諾州和密蘇里州的 123 名教育工作者提供 700 多個小時的專業培訓
為 5-25 歲的學生提供 6000 多個小時的水資源科學實踐教育
有 600 名學生參加密西西比河和密蘇里河的獨木舟和槳板水上活動
有 200 多人參與 Waterschool 營隊活動
為 80 多名教師提供水資源教育活動教組
為 56 所學校提供環境衛生和個人衛生用品
並非只有在現場的工作者才可帶來重大影響。2023 年夏天，Swarovski 的 VIP 會員有機會競標非凡的大象 Hekima 雕塑。得標者將捐款 15,000 美元，所有款項將直接用於密西西比流域的 Swarovski 基金會 Waterschool 計畫。
