building the freshwater education netWork:
Watershed education for all maine students
The Freshwater Education Network, organized by Maine Lakes and managed by Tamara Whitmore, is bringing together experienced water educators, classroom teachers, school administrators, education advocacy groups, and other stakeholders, to define the principles of freshwater education, promote professional development opportunities, advocate freshwater education as an integrative context for learning, provide support for less experienced educators and new programs, cultivate private public partnerships to increase students access to freshwater education, and develop evaluation methods to assess the long-term impact of this work.
Why Freshwater Education?
Freshwater education is a compelling and relevant topic to use as an integrative context for learning for Maine students. With Maine's incredible abundance of clean freshwater resources and healthy water ecosystems, water systems are accessible for learning opportunities for every Maine student.
However, access to engaging, hands-on learning is not equally accessible for all students across the state. Often high-quality freshwater education is limited to schools that are in the service area of an environmental nonprofit or classrooms with teachers personally interested/invested in the subject.
The Freshwater Education Network seeks to expand freshwater learning to more students across the state, in both traditional school settings and more informal settings such as summer camps and summer rec programs.
Did you know?
Maine is home to...
- 6,000 lakes and ponds
- 2,500 Great Ponds (lakes and ponds over 10 acres in size) that are owned by the people of Maine?
- 32,000 miles of streams and rivers
- 5,000,000 acres of freshwater wetlands
With this much fresh water in our state, freshwater education opportunities are close at hand as a context for Maine student learning.
Are Maine's Freshwater Resources at Risk?
Yes! Maine's freshwater systems are changing. Over 180 lakes have been identified as impaired or threatened based on declines in water clarity, an indicator of overall lake health. Another 245 lakes have been identified as being at-risk from the impacts of shoreline development. More than 60 Maine lakes have been identified as at moderate to very high risk of algae blooms.
Maine's lakes are facing ever growing risks. The changing climate brings larger storms, more rain, more runoff, and more nutrient pollution to our lakes. Excess nutrients feed algae bloom that are not just unpleasant but alter habitats and pose health risks to people and pets. Damage to human-built infrastructure, like from the storms in the fall and winter of 2023, have cascading impacts to our lakes, especially road and culvert washouts. Warmer lake waters are also better suited to both algae blooms and the spread of invasive species.
HOW FRESHWATER EDUCATION CAN HELP
At a gathering last spring of freshwater educators, attendees were asked this question: If every child had access to freshwater education, how would Maine be different? The answers were compelling. We would be healthier, both physically and mentally. We would be more connected through activities and time outside, and more connected to our sense of place. We would have more compliance, and need less enforcement, with water protection rules because we would understand the rationale behind the regulations. Most importantly, perhaps, the future health of Maine's lakes would be in good hands with an informed, engaged population that values and works to conserve freshwater resources.
Freshwater Principles Survey (coming soon): As we build the Freshwater Education Network, we want to sure that we are identifying lessons, activities, and resources that inform on the most crucial concepts, threats, and issues regarding the health of our freshwater resources in Maine.This is where we could use your help! In your experience, what are the most important concepts Maine residents should know, to understand the importance of healthy waters, and how decisions people make can impact the quality of water ecosystems, both positively and negatively? This short survey will be posted here (and shared widely) in August of 2024 and will help us ensure our educational efforts are aligned with the most important issues that impact water quality in Maine.
- Network Gatherings (Fall 2024): We are currently planning for gatherings this fall of both the network steering committee and the full membership. Check back here for more information and details.
We welcome anyone with interest in or experience with furthering the reach and extent of Freshwater Education programming in Maine to get involved with the Freshwater Education Network.
- Learn more by signing up for the Freshwater Education News (an occasional update of network activities).
- Join the network and help build resources, connections, and most importantly, bring freshwater education to all Maine's students. For more information about options for roles and involvement, contact Tamara Whitmore, Project Manager, at email@example.com.
The Freshwater Education Network is funded by generous grants from the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation and the Onion Foundation.