Workshops
To become a certified IDAH2O Master Water Steward or a Project WET certified teacher, you must attend a seven-hour workshop.
IDAH2O workshops are daylong indoor and outdoor sessions that cover a wide variety of topics, such as starting a monitoring plan and how to network with local citizens interested in water quality. Project WET workshops include interactive, hands-on activities to teach all aspects of water to youth, navigating the 600-page Curriculum and Activity Guide, and access to robust educational resources, all connected to state educational standards. Contact Jim Ekins, Extension water educator, for more information: 208-292-1287; idah2o@uidaho.edu.
Eligibility
Workshops are open to any individual or group with an interest in water quality and monitoring. The $40 workshop fee covers instructional expenses. Preregistration and prepayment is required, via University of Idaho Marketplace.
2020 Dates and Locations
All IDAH2O workshops start at 8:30 a.m., local time. All Project WET workshops start at 9 a.m., local time. Workshops with an asterisk (*) start at another time, or have different schedules; check with the instructor for additional information.
IDAH2O Master Stewards Workshops (all workshops are tentative due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Please contact the IDAH2O administration prior to registration, jekins@uidaho.edu).
- July 11 (Saturday): Sandpoint
- July 18 (Saturday): Coeur d'Alene
- July 24 (Friday): Boise (with Project WET)
Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) Workshops
- Postponed/TBA: Coeur d'Alene: Project WET for K-12 teachers and other educators. Online version available; contact Jim Ekins, jekins@uidaho.edu.
Other related workshops:
- Aug. 21 (Friday): Bonners Ferry: Restoring Streams for landowners with stream erosion issues*
- In partnership with the Extension Idaho Forest Stewardship program
- Oct. 27-29: PD credit for attendance at PNW and MW Nutrient Cycling, Soil Health and Food Safety Conference (including Idaho Nutrient Management Conference)
- November 2020: Crayfish and Freshwater Ecosystems with The River Mile and Engaging Every Student
- Any workshop can be arranged specifically for your group (commitment of twelve participants or more)
Topics
IDAH2O workshops focus on topics like:
- Watershed investigations
- Why and how monitoring works
- Water safety
- Hands-on field experience
- Other related water quality topics
Project WET workshops are entirely interactive, including thorough participation in at least six Project WET activities tailored for the grade bands represented by the teachers present in the workshop.
Certification
Upon completion of an IDAH2O workshop, all participants will be IDAH2O Master Water Stewards. Upon completion of a Project WET workshop, all participants will be Project WET certified.
Master Water Stewards who commit to regular monitoring and register a monitoring location on a stream (or lake/pond) are either assigned a complete water quality monitoring kit for use while actively monitoring or access to one of several Lending Library kits housed in Coeur d’Alene, Driggs, Island Park area, Moscow and Boise.
Certified Project WET participants will be given the 600-page Activity and Curriculum Guide, plus other resources.
Professional Development Credits
Professional development credits are available for K-12 educators for most workshops.
Continuing Education
Additional workshops may be available for certified IDAH2O Master Water Stewards who wish to continue developing their monitoring skills.
Please contact Jim Ekins, IDAH2O coordinator, at idah2o@uidaho.edu or 208-292-1287 for more information.
Tailored Workshops
Tailored workshops for any group of 12 or more people can be arranged almost any time of year.
IDAH2O can also be taught directly to high school classes that commit to regular stream monitoring.