Water Stewardship – From Source to Sea

Original date: May 16, 2011

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Presenter:  Cate McEwen

Description: This presentation will identify elements of water literacy through a stewardship study with grades 4/5 school students. While drawing from a specific school project, it will identify elements that can be transferred to other situations – and higher grade levels. The project involved field learning immersed in the local community, making personal connections that lead to community activism. Topics to be discussed include watershed study; creek habitat investigations and rehabilitation; water monitoring (includes constructivism and critical thinking); invertebrate life in the creek; creekside poetry and journaling; structured unstructured play; local water issues; global water issues; and evolving from awareness to action.  Cate will use a 3-D model to demonstrate how a watershed works, describe how to intervene with a local government and create interpretive signs for public creekside walks.

Age appropriateness:  Grades 1-8

Catherine (Cate) McEwen has a background in biological field science, and has been involved in environmental education for 25 years. During this time, she has been a facilitator within the WildBC network of educators, a GLOBE trainer (see www.globecanada.ca & www.globe.gov), and a director with Gulf Islands Centre for Ecological Learning.  Her focus is to engage learners in the interconnectedness of life, developing an informed and compassionate relationship with all life. She includes herself as one of these learners. In the past 4 years, she has focused on water education projects that promote river and water stewardship, both locally and in Mongolia. Most recently she has worked directly with teachers in a local school on an award-winning watershed project.  (See www.bcgreengames.ca).  When not facilitating learning, she can be found enjoying music, teaching yoga, or on the water near her Salt Spring Island home in British Columbia.