Project WET Colorado

Earth Day in Summit View and Copper Mesa

2009-05-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

Project WET Colorado hosted Earth Day Assemblies at Copper Mesa and Summit View Elementary Schools in Highlands Ranch. These assemblies featured speakers Creigh Kelly and Tracy Bouvette who discussed water use here and in Africa, and the importance of water in our daily lives. The children were presented with the Project WET activity "Drop in the Bucket" (upsized for the stage) which focused on the amount of fresh water available for brushing our teeth and watering the dog worldwide. It was met with many ohs and ahs!

The school children were then allowed time for questions and answers. Questions such as "why is the world round" and "how long will the water cycle continue" had science teachers laying low and english teachers giggling. But our speakers braved the storm and took on all comers. We expect to be invited back next year, so it appears that we were well received.

New Costs for Continuing Education Credit

2009-04-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

As you may know, the costs for continuing education credits at the School of Mines is going to change this summer, and then again at the start of 2010. The change relates to a minor increase in course administration fees. You may wonder why the fees will go down from where they are currently if adminstration feees are increasing. It is because there was a donation to the DOW imbedded in past fees that has been eliminated. New fees starting June 2009 will be as follows:

June-December 2009 fees:
1/2 credit $30.00
1 credit $45.00
1 1/2 credits $70.00
2 credits $80.00

Then, as of January 1, 2010
1/2 credit $35.00
1 credit $50.00
2 credits $90.00

Project WET Video From Last Year

2009-03-24T13:24:00.000-07:00

Continuing Education Credit Costs

2009-03-20T15:04:00.001-07:00

As we come up to speed regarding project costs, Shawna Crocker recently schooled me regarding the costs for continuing education credits through Colorado School of Mines. Although costs are currently as listed below, it is expected that the costs will be changing in the Summer (3 months from now) to reflect increased administrative costs, etc. Costs for various reasons are not expected to jump very much ( a couple dollars up per credit hour), but a jump is a jump.

Look for more information to come out soon.

1/2 credit hour - $34
1 credit hour - $57
1 1/2 credit hour - $70 (thanks to Natalie Brower Kirton for this info)

Facilitator Workshop Planning Process

2009-03-17T16:12:00.000-07:00

We have a number of workshops currently being planned in Colorado (and some that have already occurred!). The process for planning workshops is fairly straightforward. it goes as follows:

i) If you are planning a workshop, please drop an email to gwi@greatwesterninstitute.org
and let us know that you are in the planning mode. There is a form on the DOW website at(http://wildlife.state.co.us/Education/TeacherResources/ProjectWild/WorkshopPlanning.htm) that can help. We are most interested in when and where, in part so we can post the information on the Great Western Institute website.

ii) Once you have the workshop planned, please forward us a .pdf or word file with the registration information, so we can also post that on the WET Workshop schedule page at (http://www.greatwesterninstitute.org/pages/sign/projectWET.php). This way potential participants can come to one location and get all the registration information that they may need.

iii) As you approach the workshop, let us know what materials that you need. Pricing is as follows:

The Project WET Curriculum guides are $20
Conserve Water Guides are $25
Discover a Watershed Guides $30 (includes Colorado River, Missouri River and Rio Grande)
Healthy Peolpe, Healthy Water Guides $25
Discovering Kids Activity Booklets (various types) $1.25

We can also provide assistance with food and fabulous prizes on a case by case basis so just ask.

iv) the workshop facilitator will need to track registration, complete the facilitor reporting form, distribute and collect workshop evaluation forms, and complete the workshop accounting form. All paperwork and checks for materials should be sent to Great Western Institute upon completion of the workshop.

v) For those looking to receive continuing education credits, they cost $57 per credit hour (which realtes to a 16 hour workshop) through Colorado School of Mines. The paper work is also at the above link and the forms with checks payable to Colorado School of Mines (CSM) can either be sent to Great Western Institute to be processed or the School of Mines (their address is on the form). I would prefer that you send it through us to make the connection to CSM consistent.

If you have questions or need clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me at gwi@greatwesterninstitute.org

Thanks!!

Getting Started

2009-03-12T10:29:00.000-07:00

Greetings to all our Project WET Facilitators and friends! This blog will hopefully serve to bring us together in a new and meaningful fashion,... allowing us to share stories, worries and concerns, information, and ideas ultimately bringing better, more current water education to our teachers and children.

Please visit us often to help us create an even more dynamic program than we have had in the past (and believe me when I say that the program has been very successful in the past under the direction of folks such as Jo Scarbeary and Teresa Higgins, with valuable support from individuals such as Jeff Rucks, Tabbi Kinion and Shawna Crocker, and many others too numerous to name).

I look forward to hearing from you.