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.
Un impatto duraturo
Title:Sin dai suoi inizi, il programma Waterschool USA ha avuto un impatto considerevole.
Subtitle:Oltre 700 ore di sviluppo professionale per 123 educatori in Illinois e Missouri
Oltre 6000 ore di formazione pratica sulla gestione dell’acqua con studenti di età dai 5 ai 25 anni
600 studenti hanno partcipato ad escursioni in canoa e tavola da SUP sulle acque dei fiumi Mississippi e Missouri
Oltre 200 partecipanti al Camp Waterschool
Oltre 80 insegnanti hanno ricevuto kit per le attività di formazione in materia di acqua
56 scuole sono state dotate di materiale igienico-sanitario
Non è solo chi è sul posto a fare la differenza. Nell’estate del 2023, i soci VIP Swarovski hanno avuto la possibilità di presentare un’offerta d’asta per una straordinaria scultura raffigurante l’Elefante Hekima. L’offerta vincente ha fruttato 15.000 USD e tutti i proventi sono stati devoluti direttamente al programma Waterschool della Swarovski Foundation nel bacino idrico del Mississippi.
