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.
Educator Workshops
Title:Raise awareness of water and environment
Subtitle:
Each year, Waterschool USA organizes a series of educator workshops to equip teachers with the knowledge, tools, and resources necessary to integrate water-related topics into the curriculum. By building a bridge between classroom learning and community science initiatives, the workshops help spark student curiosity and raise awareness of water and environmental issues.
Een blijvende impact
Title:Het Waterschool USA-programma heeft sinds de oprichting een aanzienlijke impact gehad.
Subtitle:Meer dan 700 uur aan professionele ontwikkeling van 123 docenten in Illinois en Missouri
Meer dan 6000 uur aan praktisch onderwijs in watertechnologie voor studenten van 5 tot 25 jaar
600 deelnemende studenten aan kano- en paddleboard-excursies op de Mississippi- en de Missouri-rivier
Meer dan 200 Camp Waterschool-deelnemers
Meer dan 80 docenten voorzien van activiteitenkits voor watervoorlichting
56 scholen voorzien van hygiënische benodigdheden en sanitaire voorzieningen
Niet alleen degenen ter plaatse hebben voor een grote impact gezorgd. In de zomer van 2023 konden Swarovski-vipleden bieden op een bijzonder Olifant Hekima-beeld. Het winnende bod leidde tot een donatie van $ 15.000, waarvan de volledige opbrengst naar het Swarovski Foundation Waterschool-programma in het stroomgebied van de rivier de Mississippi ging.
