Our dedicated education team at National Great Rivers creates, plans and provides opportunities for learners of all ages to expand their knowledge of great rivers, their watersheds and their importance to our communities. Meet our team!
Educator Resources & Opportunities
NGRREC’s education team can help your community, your students and you deepen your understanding and connection to our watershed through teaching materials, workshops, field experiences, and loanable kits.
Swarovski Waterschool USA
The Swarovski Foundation Waterschool program is a global water program designed for formal and non-formal educators with locations in 8 countries. Located at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, Waterschool USA aims to improve water literacy and student empowerment outcomes for Mississippi River watershed schools and their local communities. The Waterschool program provides many opportunities for educators and students to learn about our world’s most precious resource.
Project WET: Water Education Today is a water education program, curriculum, and network for K-12 educators. As the state coordinator for Project WET in Illinois, NGRREC offers educator workshops and facilitator trainings and supports the Illinois Project WET network.
Water Festival educates students about water in fun, interactive environments and offers community-led learning stations and exhibits where students engage in hands-on water activities and investigations. The goal is to promote awareness of and increase knowledge about water resources.
NGRREC has hosted a Water Festival on the campus of Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, IL, since 2002 and is committed to helping other communities host their own Water Festival.
NGRREC’s STREAM Series goes beyond traditional STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programming by incorporating elements of Research and Art. These events invite community members to learn more about NGRREC's work across three pillars: education, outreach, and research. Stay tuned for more information on upcoming exciting events for all ages. If you enjoyed our Neighbor Nights events, don’t miss the STREAM series.
Riverwatch for the Classroom
Illinois RiverWatch is a state-wide community science program funded by National Great Rivers and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) that provides volunteers the opportunity to become actively involved in science by helping to monitor and collect data in their local stream habitats. The Education team, along with our RiverWatch volunteer coordinator, will help train you and your students to become volunteers through the RiverWatch program.
National Great Rivers offers undergraduate research programs year-round, providing accepted students a paid opportunity to explore their interests and gain meaningful experience in a variety of careers with projects that focus on scientific research, education, conservation outreach and freshwater policy in our great rivers and their watersheds. Our internships are supported by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, The Maxwell-Hanrahan Foundation, the Monticello College Foundation and the National Science Foundation.
The Jerry F. Costello Confluence Field Station is designed and built to meet the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standard. The station demonstrates how building design and construction can reduce pollution and encourage a connection with nature. Join us and explore NGRREC’s field station! The tour is best for middle school students, high school students, college students, and adults.