Science teachers from 15 school districts up and down the Wisconsin River will learn how to monitor water resources through a program developed by Wes Halverson of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point�s Watersheds Center.

The Wisconsin River Education Network (WREN) will be funded by a UW System grant award of $45,200 under the Eisenhower Professional Development Program.

According to Halverson, one of the project�s major goals is to build a network of seventh through twelfth grade teachers and link them to long-term water resources partners. The partners will include the Watersheds Center, county governments, private, nonprofit organizations, DNR and UW Extension. The second goal is to improve educational experiences available to students and to engage their curiosity and creativity in the conservation of water resources.

"The program is designed for junior high and high school science teachers who have an interest in the physical, chemical or biological properties of the Wisconsin River watershed," Halverson says. "Interests may include wetlands, ponds, lakes, groundwater or any of the hundreds of tributaries to the Wisconsin River. We will teach the educators how to monitor these systems, including which technologies to apply to their studies."

Forty teachers will learn scientific field methods at a five-day summer institute to be held on the UWSP campus. Following their training, the educators will involve their students in monitoring projects using water quality test kits. One-day regional workshops will be held for the teachers and their teams of students prior to their fall semester fieldwork. The second semester will involve data analysis and development of graphic presentations for a spring watershed symposium at UWSP.

"UWSP�s water resources faculty have a high respect for science teachers and depend on them for producing the next generation of CNR students. Our faculty desires a long-term relationship with secondary science teachers and the Wisconsin River watershed is a perfect outdoor classroom to engage in a collaborative project that can benefit all the citizens of Wisconsin," Halverson says.

Further information is available through the UWSP Web site at www.uwsp.edu/cnr/watersheds or e-mail wes.halverson@uwsp.edu or call (715) 346-3806.

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