K-12 Education Opportunities for Teachers and Students

KWF offers a variety of hands-on Watershed Education programs and materials for K-12 classes and youth groups on the Kenai Peninsula. KWF education staff lead classroom and field-based activities that help youth gain the knowledge, experience and motivation to become active stewards of the Kenai Peninsula’s unique watershed resources. KWF education staff can tailor programs for grade level and group interest.

Materials for Teachers

Watershed Education materials are available for checkout by teacher and youth leaders. Current watershed programs and materials include: Kenai River Watershed Mural; Watershed Model; Groundwater Model; Make Your Own Watershed Models; Watershed Ecology; and Water Quality Monitoring for Rivers, Streams, Lakes, and Wetlands.

Adopt A Stream Program

The KWF conducts its Adopt A Stream program with local elementary schools to help foster stewardship of local watersheds. The Adopt A Stream program combines monthly classroom presentations, field trips to local streams and data collection and review to help promote appreciation and increase understanding of local watersheds. The hands-on scientific experience provided by KWF professional staff offers new and exciting opportunities for students to learn about watersheds both inside and outside of the classroom.

Service Learning Opportunities for Youth

Each spring, KWF education staff work with local schools and youth organizations to implement hands-on “service learning” watershed protection projects. Examples include cleaning up trash and debris in and along streams and wetlands; painting stencils on storm drains to remind community residents not to dump pollutants; constructing educational signs and events; and planting vegetation to restore eroding stream banks. Through grant support, KWF offers staff time and equipment to facilitate these projects. KWF staff are also available to lead classroom sessions to prepare students for these projects.

Kenai Peninsula Ecological and Cultural Educators

The Kenai Watershed Forum also coordinates the activities of the Kenai Peninsula Ecological and Cultural Educators. KPECE is a coalition of educators from governmental agencies, local tribes and non-governmental organizations. KPECE members meet regularly to coordinate and cooperate on educational programs focused on cultural and natural resource topics. In addition to providing their own programs, KPECE members have teamed up to provide teacher training workshops, conduct a needs analysis survey of Kenai Peninsula Borough teachers, and support each other in grant applications and program development. KPECE members have also collaborated on “River Week”, a series of river and fish-themed school and community events held in late spring.