Town of Gilbert Recognizes the Value of the UA’s Statewide Water Education Program

Gilbert Council Member Jenn Daniels lauded the Town of Gilbert Water Conservation department at last week’s Town Council meeting. “Today, 800 fourth graders were taught about water and water conservation. It was a tremendous volunteer effort.” Daniels also attended the Water Festival and personally thanked volunteers.

 

Tina Sleeper, an Arizona Project WET (APW) program coordinator in Maricopa County, led the charge to deliver the 3rd Annual Gilbert Water Festival on March 6, drawing 825 fourth graders, 30 teachers and 106 parents from the Gilbert Public School District. More than 30 volunteers from the community supported the event, including individuals from the Town of Gilbert, Maricopa Master Gardener Program, Master Watershed Steward Program, the Salt River Project, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, and Desert Willow Environmental Education Center. 

 

“The Arizona Water Festival Program combines effective teacher professional development, direct student outreach that extends classroom learning, and community engagement,” says Director Kerry Schwartz.  “Bringing these components together is the hard work that APW does to achieve STEM literacy and water stewardship education in Arizona’s communities.” 

 

Arizona Project WET is a University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences program.