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.
Tabor Waterschool
Title:Bodite ekolog povodja
Subtitle:
Tabor Waterschool ponuja učencem in njihovim mentorjem priložnost, da se za en teden vživijo v vlogo ekologa povodja. Na taboru so udeleženci vključeni v različne znanstvene raziskave in dejavnosti, v katerih se poglobijo v naravo, na primer: vzorčenje kakovosti vode, sprehodi po potokih, izdelovanje šablon odtokov meteorne vode, izleti ob rekah, pa tudi umetnost in obrt ter pustolovščine na prostem. Te dejavnosti pomagajo spodbujati kritično mišljenje in globljo zavezanost k varovanju vodnih virov.
Delavnice za vzgojitelje
Title:Ozaveščanje o vodi in okolju
Subtitle:
Waterschool ZDA vsako leto organizira vrsto izobraževalnih delavnic, da bi učitelje opremili z znanjem, orodji in viri, potrebnimi za vključitev tem, povezanih z vodami, v učni načrt. S povezovanjem učenja v razredu in znanstvenih pobud skupnosti pomagajo delavnice spodbujati radovednost študentov ter dvigati ozaveščenost o vodnih in okoljskih vprašanjih.
A Lasting Impact
Title:The Waterschool USA program has had a significant impact since its inception.
Subtitle:700+ hours of professional development to 123 educators in Illinois and Missouri
6000+ hours of hands-on water science education with students aged 5-25
600 students engaged in on-water canoe and paddleboard excursions on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers
200+ Camp Waterschool participants
80+ teachers provided with water education activity kits
56 schools provided with sanitation and hygiene supplies
It’s not just those on the ground who have made a big impact. In the summer of 2023, Swarovski VIP members had the opportunity to bid on an extraordinary Elephant Hekima sculpture. The winning bid prompted a $15,000 donation – with all proceeds going directly to the Swarovski Foundation Waterschool program in the Mississippi watershed.
