Breakout Sessions and Proceedings

Friday, September 11

10:30 – 11:45 am

Action Oriented Wetland and Watershed Education Programs to Engage Students
Dr. Rick Wishart, Ducks Unlimited Canada ; Bob Adamson, Pembina Trails School Division
This paper describes a number of innovative education programs that involve both elementary and high school students in action-oriented and out of the classroom opportunities aimed at developing real life skills and experiences in watershed and wetland education. Developing non-traditional community partnerships that have been supported at community, school and division levels have been key to the success of these programs.
Presentation - Wishart
Presentation - Adamson

What is water for? Assessing the state of water management education in Canada
Jeremy J. Schmidt, Canadian Water Resources Association’s Student and Young Professionals
Effective water management requires knowledge, yet systematic assessments of educational options for acquiring such knowledge in Canada are few. In response, the Canadian Water Resources Association’s Student and Young Professionals (SYP) organization has begun a systematic assessment of water management education in Canada at the university level. The SYP is a national organization with members spanning disciplines in the sciences, social sciences and humanities. A three-phase project design has been initiated. The first entails a description of courses and programs in water management at post-secondary institutions. The method employed involves a content analysis of courses in water management education as described in education databases and university calendars, followed by requests for syllabi that offer increased detail. This method, we hope, emulates one route a prospective student may take to assessing what type of water management education suits their particular life projects. In this presentation, we present preliminary results based on findings from universities in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Critically, the process of presenting these results is important to subsequent aspects of the study. Therein, phases two and three involve evaluating what a comprehensive water management education ought to include from, respectively, the perspectives of university and non-university educators. In this sense, the purpose of our presentation is to collaborate with fellow conference attendees with the intention of establishing a normative baseline regarding what may be considered the key elements of an education that promotes effective water management.
Presentation
For a copy of the most recent summary paper please contact Jeremy jschmi7@uwo.ca

From the Ground Up: EnCana's Efforts to Facilitate Groundwater Education
Patricia Etris, EnCana Corporation
As part of an industry that relies on water for our operations, EnCana is continuously working to develop and improve our holistic approach to ground and surface water conservation and protection. To better protect groundwater people must first understand it. As a company that understands the movement of fluids hidden beneath the surface of the earth we have knowledge to contribute and the desire to work with other organizations to enhance this understanding by the public.
By providing education to our employees, the public, the school system, industry and government, we believe we can better protect this valuable resource. This presentation will examine the creative education initiatives and partnerships we’ve undertaken with government, the not-for-profit sector, and others, to work toward the education needs of those audiences.
Presentation

Groundwater and Water Well Education in Alberta
Krista Tremblett and Cheryl Dash, Alberta Environment
The majority of rural Albertans rely on groundwater for their domestic water supply. In Alberta’s thriving economy, the continued expansion of rural subdivisions, industrial activity and agricultural operations is placing increasing demand on provincial groundwater supplies. As such, there is an overwhelming interest in groundwater protection and information on proper water well management (i.e., siting, construction, operation, maintenance and monitoring). This presentation will provide an overview of education and outreach activities in Alberta developed to help water well owners protect their water supply and adopt stewardship practices such as regular water testing.
Presentation

Teenagers Take 20 Minute Showers – Encouraging Water Awareness
Maureen Pettigrew, Lord Beaverbrook High School, Calgary
So, how do you encourage high school students, who take clean water availability for granted, to reduce their water environmental footprint? It is not unusual for a teenager to take at least a 20-minute shower; even though they might know that Calgarians have the largest ecological footprint in Canada. Using power point and video, follow the H2O Squad and Version Water (Ecology Club) students through their 2 year journey in making a difference in water consumption at Lord Beaverbrook High School. Find out the trials and tribulations, the success and excitement involved in student lead projects. Teenagers are full of amazing enthusiasm, are not afraid to think outside the box, ready to try new ideas and are just waiting for the opportunity to lead by example. Finishing up the 30-minute presentation with group discussions, brainstorming and sharing, about what could be done in your school, community or business to reduce water consumption. The theme of this presentation would involve best practices in water education.
Presentation

Program Strategies for a Big City on a Small River
Sylvia Trosch, City of Calgary Water Resources
Calgary's water is our most valuable resource. The supply is limited, and our growing population is placing increasing demands on the Bow and Elbow rivers, both from a water quality and water quantity perspective.
To help us manage our water resources and ensure we continue to have the water we need in the future, Calgary City Council adopted a water efficiency goal known as 30-in-30. The goal is accommodate Calgary's Future population growth with the same amount of water removed from the river in 2003. To do this, we need to reduce per capita water consumption by 30 per cent over 30 years. Its success depends on everyone's participation. This presentation will outline some of the conservation programs we have developed to reach these goals. These programs include commerical, residential and youth audiences. These programs are successfully contributing to measurable reductions in water demand but citywide efforts need to continue to produce long-term, beneficial results. Future program challenges will also be addressed.
Maintaining the water quality in our rivers is also important to all Albertans who rely on these rivers for drinking water. It is equally important to the fish and wildlife that call these waterways home. To ensure we are all doing our part, the City has also developed a Stormwater Management Strategy. It seeks to maintain current levels of sediment loading into the Bow River over the next ten years. Each year, the City also implements programs to inform Calgarians about everyday things they can do to help preserve our watersheds. The presentation will outline some of these programs and discuss future challenges in the stormwater area.
Presentation

1:00-2:15 pm

Stewardship Activities and Water Education Events and Best Practices
Don Smallwood, Pigeon Lake Watershed Association
Founded in 2007, the Pigeon Lake Watershed Association (PLWA) has already grown to a membership of 1,700. The Association encompasses farmers and ranchers, cottage owners, acreage owners, business people, the professional community, seniors, and even interested individuals outside the watershed.
The PLWA presentation describes initiatives to support Stewardship Education programs and water management best practices. It provides an overview of the Association's advocacy and and technical/research, including the commissioning of a State of the Watershed Report, an aerial videograph of the shoreline and habitat, and a review of by-law regulations impacting the watershed. The Stewardship Education activities ranged from broad participation in water quality testing and monitoring to a Christmas Creature Count and shoreline clean-ups. Educational events included Environmental Farm Plan, Shelterbelt and Working Well Workshops, Farmer's Markets displays, Informaion Meetings, Living by Water Home Site Assessments, Open Houses, and an innovative Love the Lake pledge opportunity.
The Association has partnered with the Alberta Federation of Naturalists and other groups like Cows & Fish and the Environmental Law Centre and has received the support of Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development. Key to the Association’s success has been the development of constructive relationships with the two counties, four First Nations bands and ten summer villages in the watershed.
Stewardship is the top operational priority of the Association. The PLWA has been recognized by the Leduc-Nisku Economic Development Authority and the Emerald Foundation of Alberta. For more information consult the PLWA website at: http://www.pigeonlakewatershedassociation.com/Home.
Presentation
Summary

Understanding the Bigger Picture - Issues and State of the Saskatchewan River Basin
Jennifer Nelson, Partners FOR the Saskatchewan River Basin
Originating in the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, the Saskatchewan River Basin continues through Saskatchewan flowing into Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba. Ultimately, these waters flow through the Nelson River towards Hudson Bay. In June 2009, the Partners FOR the Saskatchewan River Basin released the State of the Saskatchewan River Basin Report. This report is the first of its kind to examine the entire Saskatchewan River Basin, ignoring political boundaries. By covering the basin across all three provinces in a consistent manner, this report is a valuable tool for understanding how smaller watersheds fit into a larger picture. Through this presentation, participants will learn the basic facts about the Saskatchewan River Basin as well as they key issues, threats, and challenges that threaten water resources in the basin. Some of these challenges include agriculture, forestry, climate change, urban development and drought management. Participants will also receive copies of the report.
Presentation

The Wonder of Water: Digital literacies and environmental change
Helene Moise, Vancouver School Board
As we can no longer ignore the emergency of the wounds we have inflicted on the health of our ecosystems, there has been a growing concern to integrate environmental issues in the school curriculum. The United Nations declared 2005-2014 to be the decade for Education for Sustainable Development, which intends to bring to the forefront the role of all teachers to integrate the principles, values, and practices of sustainable development in the classroom. Teachers play a crucial role in empowering students to become environmentally responsible.
Based on the work in New Literacies, digital literacies, language and identity, and indigenous knowledge, this Capstone paper, which is particularly concerned with the state of the world’s fresh water supplies, explores how a multimodal curriculum can be adapted to integrate learning for environmental change. The curriculum (The Wonder of Water) developed as part of the Connection to Practice component of this project was inspired by my involvement with the organization Learning for a Sustainable Future, which aims to educate teachers on the meaning and importance of engaging students in sustainable action projects. This curriculum will demonstrate how digital literacies and Education for Sustainable Development can come together to create an empowering learning experience for students that can enable them to add unforeseen colors to the landscape of ideas and to take actions to heal our world’s water.
Presentation
Summary

Alberta WaterSMART / WaterPortal
Mike Scarth, Alberta WaterSMART
In Alberta, there are over 1,000 water-related organizations, each with different stakeholders and perspectives on the province’s water challenges, opportunities and solutions. Each of these organizations is developing local and proprietary websites, datasets and tools in order to reach their communities of interest. The challenge is how to connect this collective community of water stakeholders and all of this water information and knowledge, in a way that adds value and is complimentary to the goals and work that each of these groups are pursuing?
In response to this challenge, the Alberta WaterPortal team with funding and support from the Alberta Research Council, and the Suncor Energy Foundation, and the Alberta Water Research Institute, are developing the not for profit Alberta WaterPortal (WaterPortal) project.
We want the WaterPortal to be a catalyst and capacity builder, a collaborative, multi-stakeholder community for the sharing of water knowledge. A place where anyone can easily find and contribute to the information and knowledge needed to make better water management decisions, and become more actively involved in conserving water. It is our intention to do this in partnership with others already engaged in such activities. We plan on working closely with federal, provincial and local municipal government departments and agencies, as well as industry, educational and research institutes, and other water management and stewardship organizations to bring about this access in a way that adds value and is complimentary to the work many are pursuing.
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Summary

The Big Sandy Water Institute’s Successful Story of Teaching Our Youth Water Resource Values
Curtis Sparks, Stantec NAWE, White Bear Lake, Minnesota USA
This presentation tells an 8-year story of the Big Sandy Water Institute's program to teach the values of our water resources to our youth. Our children are our future. Because we learn best from our experiences the Water Institute is hands on. Educating our children on how our natural resources are interconnected in a way that instills lasting impression is a challenge accepted by the Water Institute. The Water Institute provides potentially life changing experience though numerous engaging environmental activities.
Presentation

Education or Authentic Professional Narrative - A Unique Opportunity for Games
Peter Gammell, Watershed Creative Ltd.
With a background as an environmental consultant and a strong affinity for leveraging gaming theory, technology, engaging narrative and real data to raise the environmental and social consciousness of young people, Peter will be introducing a selection of environmental educational projects he's undertaken on behalf of post-secondary, government, industry and entertainment sector clients. These products deal with a number of topics, including watershed management, environmental impact and liability associated with all kinds of industries and global environmental challenges.
Peter’s motivation for the work he does is the belief that it is the intrinsic motivation to learn derived from having a personally relevant experience that prompts reflection. As a primary mechanism for life-long learning, Watershed Creative is dedicated to design those experiences.
The following quote discovered in the recent issue of Campus Technology which deals with Web 2.0 and education will be discussed as well. "The learning tools of this century and probably this millennium are not print-based. That world and all its assumptions about permanence, authority, and scarcity are gone. It is no longer the authority lecture but the conversation that is the emerging norm. The new textbook is student work; I'll say it again: The textbook of this age is the work that students generate under your guidance and within your design." - Trent Batson
Presentation

2:30 – 3:45 pm

Native Science
Alvin Manychief, Red Crow Community College, Cardston, AB
This presentation will discuss the value of First Nations' perspective in planning and education initiatives. It will examine the role Native science can play in teaching about watershed issues and in consultations about water planning in the future. Often First Nations perspectives are overlooked, or misunderstood, and this session will reveal how education and consultation activities can better incorporate First Nations perspectives, while taking a look at education programs.
Presentation

From Research, to Knowledge, to Policy, Practice and the Classroom
David Hill, Program Director, Alberta Water Research Institute
Water – there is no replacement for it and we need it for virtually everything we value, from our own lives to the products we use each day. The fresh water we have to use is increasingly scarce, populations are growing, climate is changing and one might really ask the question, Do we have enough water? Well answering that question is also not particularly easy, but there is a wide range of activities in the realm of science and technology that should help us deal with these issues over time. This presentation will highlight some of the things that are happening in Alberta in this arena and speculate about how new and emerging science, information and ideas could make their way into the classroom.
Presentation

Water education through inquiry-based learning
Heather Wolder, Calgary Board of Education
Using the grade 8 science unit "Fresh and Saltwater Systems", as an example, the presenter will describe the features of inquiry based learning and how this investigative process can be adapted to suit almost any curricular outcome. In addition to providing an introduction to the creation of Inquiry-based projects and activities, the presentation will outline how students applied inquiry learning, studying a variety of current world water issues through the creation of video documentaries, starting with the creation of their essential questions, research process, use of formative evaluation tools, application of video creation software, and finally, samples of final products.
The purpose of this presentation is twofold: To provide educators with an overview of Inquiry-based Learning. More importantly, however, this presentation will demonstrate how to bring awareness to students about water crisis issues that our world is facing.
Presentation

Debunking the staffing assumptions and perspectives of water education
Cal Kullman, RiverWatch
What if we’ve been going about water education using erroneous assumptions and worn-out perspectives? Can a mental shift at the management level translate into renewed vigor and enhanced effectiveness at the client level? What if the important focus of on-site water education really begins with staffing and not the student, audience, client or curriculum? Fifteen-years of RiverWatch experience with 400 seasonal staff has shown that extraordinary results can be attained with some off-the-wall and “behind-the-scenes” thinking about staffing. Water education can be seen as a theatre performance that focuses on the actors and the stage – not on the audience. A great stage cast can be secured, mentored and supported through an internship experience that addresses the transient nature, creativeness and oral history of the work. The work of water education is not a “field trip” if we recognize that learning can occur as apprentices in the shadow of those people going about important work. Organizations delivering water education might consider daily pay rates, cue cards, staff training videos and inter-agency collaboration. The outcome for everyone involved is a life exploration and networking along a career time-line that spans cradle-to-grave.
Presentation

Water Education Resource Project in Ontario -- Needs and challenges to help classroom teachers
Bill Thompson, Environment-Economy Education Society of Ontario, Ontario Society for Environmental Education
A water resource project meant for distribution to classroom teachers will be outlined in context with recent changes in the Policy Framework for Ontario schools. Partners in the resource will be outlined as well as challenges and strategies for success. The project is a joint concern of several groups, the Environment-Economy Educators (E3), the Ontario Society for Environmental Education (OSEE), graphics from Conservation Ontario, and partnering with the Science Teachers' Association of Ontario, among other possible groups. A summer institute featuring water education recently offered at McMaster University in Hamilton will be reviewed. The provincial situation with water education and new initiatives in taking environmental education to all subjects and all grades will be discussed.
Presentation

Classroom Tools that Encourage Water and Energy Conservation
Lis Mack, Partners FOR the Saskatchewan River Basin
Through this presentation, we will address three programs that we have developed for Grades 3-8 students. Board games can be ordered from our office. Click on Climate is an exciting out door field trip based program for children aged eight to thirteen. It helps them understand the causes and impacts of climate change and what they can do about it. The goal of the Click on Climate program is to develop conservation practices and other stewardship behaviour in children that reduce human impact on climate. Click on Climate kits will be available free to participants. Water Watchdog is an outdoor monitoring program. Participants are encouraged to take action by testing and reporting on the water and water ecosystem in their own backyard streams, rivers, lakes and ponds. The goal of the Water Watchdog program is to increase understanding about water quality, management issues, and to encourage water conservation. Water Watchdog materials are now online and participants will be shown how to best use these resources, including a new database to help keep track of your water quality test results. Moopher’s Amazing Journey to the Sea is an exciting board game designed for children ages 7-12+. By helping Moopher (a mischievous gopher) travel to the sea, children learn about their place within the Saskatchewan River Basin, its diverse culture, and how their actions can influence the greater watershed basin. This game is available in English and French.
Presentation

Saturday, September 12

9:30 – 10:45 am

Water Use by the Petroleum Industry in Alberta – It’s Good News
Brent Moore, Devon Canada Corporation
In Alberta, the petroleum sector (including conventional, oil sands mining, and oil sands thermal operations), accounts for a small percentage of water allocations. In Southern Alberta, where demand for water is high, the petroleum industry is a very small user. For example, in the highly allocated South Saskatchewan River basin, about 0.1% of the allocated water goes to petroleum industry use. In Northern basins, where water is abundant, oil industry use accounts for a very small fraction of natural supply. For oilsands mining, even considering ambitious growth, total water withdrawn from the Athabasca River will be about 2% of the natural supply. For in-situ operations in the north, fresh water use for injection is even smaller.
Despite water use being a small percentage of available supply, the oil industry continues to make progress in increased water efficiency. At Imperial's Cold Lake Operation, for example, the amount of fresh water used to produce bitumen has declined by 85% due to the advancement of recycling technology and the use of saline water as an alternative to fresh water. For newer facilities like Devon's Jackfish Thermal Heavy Oil project, the injected steam is made up of 100% brackish water, with no fresh water requirement. New technologies that minimize water use are also being evaluated.
Overall, the portion of fresh water used by the oil industry is relatively small. Nonetheless, there is a strong commitment to further reducing usage. This is a commitment that must be shared by all users, to effectively sustain Alberta’s water resources.
Presentation
Summary

Every Drop Counts: Educating about Alberta’s Irrigation Industry
Ron McMullin, Alberta Irrigation
Water is the lifeblood of the irrigation industry in Alberta. Producing food for Albertans and people throughout the world is a noble cause, but in doing so, irrigation in the Province consumes more water than any other industry. Education is a means of encouraging the most efficient use of water by irrigators, but is also needed to encourage efficient water use by all of us. Education can also dispel misconceptions and create understanding of the vital role irrigation has in society. The irrigation industry places high value on water and is passionate about its management. A natural spin-off is a diverse education program. A jewel of that program is Every Drop Counts, a well-balanced multi-media educational program that meets water curriculum requirements for Grade 8 students and teachers.

Current watershed issues in Alberta and their education applications & implications
Beverly Anderson, Red Deer River Watershed Alliance; Sandi Riemersma, Milk River Watershed Council Canada
Presenters will lead a 30-minute discussion on current watershed issues in Alberta and their education implications. Representing two Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils, presenters will discuss their role in the Government of Alberta's Water For Life Strategy, their approach to creating a culture of conservation and change, and the challenges and opportunities they face in watershed education.
Specifically, presenters will discuss the education applications of their State of the Watershed projects and opportunities the project provide to work with identified audiences (such as muncipalities, watershed stewardship groups, and supporting agencies/organizations) to raise awareness of the ecological, social and economic values of their local watersheds. The presenters will also describe the educational approaches used to affect public change with multiple audiences.
Presenters will also discuss their partnerships with other Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils, other conservation organizations, government departments and stewardship groups to develop common goals for future watershed education in Alberta.
Presentation
Summary

Motivating participation in watershed issues through education initiatives
Maureen Lynch, Battle River Watershed Alliance ; Leta Pezderic, Oldman Watershed Council ; Billie Millholland, North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance
Presenters will lead a 30-minute panel discussion presentation illustrating how their environmental education initiatives lead to increased local knowledge, understanding and support for watershed issues. By maintaining and building community and partner involvement, these Watershed Planning & Advisory Councils are becoming recognized community coordinators for watershed information, communication and education. Each presenter will show how identified audiences (such as Watershed Stewardship Groups, First Nations, Agricultural Producers, Municipalities, and Schools) in their local watersheds are becoming aware of the ecological, social and economic values provided by a healthy local watershed, leading to engaged learners and promotion of change in responsible watershed behaviour. Our panel represents three Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils in Alberta, each at a different stage of growth (on projects such as Education Plans, State of the Watershed Reports and Integrated Watershed Management Plans), offering the opportunity for panelists to share their organizational and geographical differences and similarities as partners in the Government of Alberta's Water For Life Strategy.
Presentation - Lynch       Presentation - Pezderic        Presentation - Nelson

Land, Forests and Water - Role of public perceptions in management of public resources
Dr. Axel Anderson, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Public land managers make decisions that affect many resources, including water. Policy decisions regarding land use and water are made for economic, environmental and social reasons. However these decisions can be very political and heavily influenced by public perception. Public and stakeholders are aware of policies from many different jurisdictions that use various management tools to provide for flood control, clean water, healthy aquatic ecosystems, or other water values. Many public and stakeholders often favour protection of areas rather than engineering or management solutions to water resource issues. The geology, vegetation, topography, climate and disturbance regimes all affect how well protecting areas will provide for stable water resources. However the role of ecosystems and forests in the water cycle are often poorly understood by the public. In western Canada the ecosystem and hydrological function of watersheds vary considerably.

I have been employed by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development as an expert in Forest Hydrology. Part of my role is public and stakeholder water education. Southern Alberta has fully allocated surface water and receives most of its water from the relative small public landbase of the Rocky Mountains and the foothills. As a result, this landbase one of the most critical water supply areas in western Canada. Forest water education of stakeholders has been a challenge. This presentation uses examples to highlight Water Education lessons learned when dealing with public and water stakeholders.
Presentation

Are Albertans Ready to practice watershed stewardship?
Gareth Thomson, Alberta Council for Environmental Education
When we practice water education, it helps to know as much as we can about our audience. As part of our work to support educators and advance environmental education in Alberta, we commissioned Ipsos Reid to poll over 800 Albertans earlier this year to measure their environmental knowledge, attitudes, readiness to practice stewardship, and their support for environmental education and water conservation. In this session you’ll learn what we found (get ready for some surprises!), and discuss the implications for water education in Western Canada – and in your practice.
Presentation

11:00 – 12:15

Interactive water education for all ages
Nathalie Bays, Oak Hammock Interpretive Centre
Come join a representative of the award-winning Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre (Manitoba) for an informative and interactive session on water education. Turn challenges into success stories, by learning to both educate and engage students of all ages. From project WET activities to water quality monitoring, students can feel a sense of place within their watershed and therefore be more willing to make a difference. This engaging presentation will also include interactive demonstrations.
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Learn how to create digital water photographs to enhance your educational presentation
Gary Grooeneveld, C.B.E./Environmental Studies
Each digital nature picture can tell a story about a particular environmental issue. Learn how to create spectacular water photographs to enhance your educational presentation. Mr. Groeneveld has taught photography to high school students at Western Canada and Lord Beaverbrook in Calgary for 29 years. In his spare time he uses his Canon digital cameras to take nature and wildlife pictures. He donates his time and photographic skills to a number of volunteer organizations that are involved in environmental issues. As a graduate of Ferris State University in Michigan and as an educator and lifelong learner, Gary is constantly acquiring new ideas as he explores photographing images in the Rockies.

Water for Life: Alberta's water strategy
Kelly Buziak, Alberta Environment
Water for Life is the Government of Alberta’s encompassing strategy for the province’s water. Introduced in 2003, it is one of the most comprehensive strategies for water in North America. Based on three goals – safe drinking water, healthy aquatic ecosystems, and reliable, quality water supplies for a sustainable economy – the strategy affects water quality and quantity issues in Alberta, as well as environmental concerns.
In 2008, the strategy celebrated its 5th anniversary and was renewed by the government. Despite its importance to Albertans, not everyone is aware of the existence of the strategy or its many integral parts. Much has been accomplished, yet much still needs to be done. Water for Life is a vision for the present and the future of water in Alberta.
Presentation

Inside Water Education
Pamela Brierley & Steve McIsaac, Inside Education
Learn how Inside Education has negotiated the exciting “water education rapids” over its 25-year history. Our full service approach, teacher professional development, classroom resources, and direct delivery to students in the class and field, has brought top quality programs to hundreds of schools across Alberta and beyond. By exploring the science and complex issues related to our water resources, Inside Education works to present multiple perspectives related to water use and management, while also providing memorable and enjoyable learning experiences. This fun and interactive session will show you “how we do it” first hand!

In addition, gain some insight into Inside Education’s history of strong partnerships in water education, and provide some insight into the successes and challenges that Inside Education has faced over the years, and what the future holds.
Presentation

Searching For a Better Future for Alberta:  Teaching Sustainable Development with Alberta Tomorrow
Jennifer Janzen, ALCES Group/Sustainability Resources
Alberta Tomorrow (www.albertatomorrow.ca) is an interactive web-based computer simulation that uses cutting edge technology and information to teach the long term effects of natural resource management on ecological and economic values right here in Alberta.  The computer simulation allows users to design their own strategy for resource development and ecological protection, run it through the simulator, and see the consequences. 
In this workshop, participants will use the Alberta Tomorrow simulator to develop a sustainable development plan for Alberta.  Participants will choose goals for resource development (oil and gas, forestry, and agriculture), wildlife habitat, native prairie and old growth forest preservation, and ecosystem values (greenhouse gas emissions, carbon storage, water use, and water quality)  After running their goals through the simulator a summary of the land use goals is presented in happy or sad faces depending on whether the goals were met or not. The opportunity to go back and change goals allows the participants to come up with the best land use plan they can ie the most happy faces.  This free, interactive, web based simulation, is an excellent way to show the complexities of designing a land use plan to satisfy the goals of all people in Alberta.  Lesson plans specific to the Alberta Curriculum are available including student activity sheets and answers for Outdoor and Environmental Education, Science 7, Social Studies 9 and 10, Science 20 and Biology 20.
Presentation

The Grafton Lake Watershed Quest: discovering our island’s water story
DG Blair-Whitehead, Blair Whitehead & Associates, Bowen Island B.C.
Raindrop, Bowen Island, BC’s water superhero led about 300 islanders on the Grafton Lake watershed quest to learn about the Grafton Lake watershed and their water supply as part of an island-wide community education and communication program focused on drinking water. Questing is an international phenomenon that uses place-based education to engage participants to discover the stories of home and to use them for learning, community building, and stewardship. The goal of the program is to protect water quality in the watershed. The challenge is that this watershed also includes residential, industrial, Crown land, and agricultural uses while serving as the water supply for the majority of islanders. The education and communication program that includes formative research, our superhero Raindrop, engaging public media and events, and a school program is currently being implemented by the local municipality. Key features of the program includes careful consideration of program goals, audience, message, and the use watershed monitoring and other data to ensure scientific accuracy and program effectiveness.
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Summary

1:45 – 3:00 pm

Engaging Primary Students in Water Education – It can be done!
Stewart Wilson, Gordon Terrace Yellow Fish Team
Primary students in this grade 3 class are immersed in water-related activities and action projects at different times during the year. They develop a sense of environmental awareness and stewardship as they learn where their water comes from; the significance of the riparian zone to the creek, plants and animals; the effects of run off from storm drains; and how important water is in the wetland ecosystem. In addition to experiencing water in many settings across the curriculum, students are involved in mentoring other classes and sharing what they have learned with the local community. This session will give you a hands-on experience to some of what the students learned.

One Simple Act - From Information to Action
Courtney Scott, Alberta Conservation Team, Alberta Environment
Alberta Environment’s One Simple Act program is a public information and education program that engages Alberta’s schools, businesses, communities and homeowners to grow Alberta’s environmental stewardship ethic.
One Simple Act challenges Albertans to make small changes in their daily activities to save energy, conserve water and reduce waste.   This campaign draws on the principles of social marketing to achieve behaviour change by leveraging public awareness, partnerships and the Alberta Conservation Team.   This presentation will touch on the overall approach of the program, some of the tools used and resources available.
Presentation

Innovative Approaches to Integrated Water Resources Management Education
Hans Schreier (Dr), Faculty of Land & Food Systems, University of British Columbia
Canadian university education programs offer numerous courses in groundwater, water treatment, hydrology, water governance, toxicity etc, but there is no comprehensive university program in Canada that offers a graduate degree in integrated water resources management. There is an urgent need to address this gap because the problems and pressures on water resources is increasing due to land use intensification, increased climatic variability and increasing demands from all human activities. Water scarcity, flooding and water pollution are among the most important issue we will face in the coming decades. If we hope to address these challenging issues in a educated and scientific manner we need to train the next generation of students in a very different way. At the same time retraining of professionals should also become a priority. For the past 10 years we offered a certificate in Watershed Management at the University of British Columbia. This is a WEB-based program open to graduate students and professionals and so far some 1000 individuals have participated. While this program fills an important gap, a much greater effort is needed to arrive at an integrated water resources management program. Given the rapid changes in information technology (IT) there are excellent opportunities to develop innovative approaches to water education. We need to make the link between basic and applied research. A fundamental understanding of all aspects of the hydrological cycle is key but in order to address the emerging management issues we also need to work with land use professionals and engineers to understand land use practices and identify successful preventative measures.

Water, Weather and the NASA/Canadian Space Agency CloudSat Satellite Mission
Bill Batycky, Program Manager - SEEDS Foundation, Country Coordinator – GLOBE Canada , Canadian Coordinator – CloudSat Outreach Program
Clouds exert an enormous influence in the cycling of water over our planet and play a complex role in climate. They are the source of precipitation and affect the amount of energy from the sun that reaches Earth's surface impacting our daily weather. Through observing clouds, we can get information about temperature, moisture, and wind conditions at different altitudes. Knowledge and observations of cloud characteristics can play an important part in predicting future climate change.
The CloudSat Satellite Mission is a joint venture between NASA and the Canadian Space Agency. CloudSat is the first satellite to produce a three-dimensional look “into” clouds giving cloud profiles (height and thickness) and cloud physical properties (water, ice, precipitation). These observations from space will be used to determine cloud thickness, and thus, the volume of water, snow or ice that a cloud might contain giving scientists a better understanding of how the water cycle works, where and how much it will rain, and if our freshwater supplies might change in the future.
Through “ground-truthing” for the CloudSat Satellite Mission Outreach Program, Canadian students, along with students world-wide, are taking the opportunity to become “citizen scientists.” When CloudSat directly overpasses their school once every 16 days, students report their atmospheric observations to mission scientists to help validate, from the ground, what CloudSat observed from space.
Ultimately, CloudSat will help improve the ways clouds, moisture and energy are represented in global models used for weather forecasts, climate change and in making predictions related to replenishing Earth’s fresh water budget.

Adopt a river program - where science means fun
Nathalie Piedboeuf, Groupe d'éducation et d'écosurveillance de l'eau / Education and water monitoring action group
What if Canadians were working together to become stewards of streams? What if communities were mobilised to help? What if there was a network that supported this community engagement? This workshop will allow you to discover an educational water monitoring program developed for formal and non formal sectors : Adopt a river. Adopt a river, which celebrates it's 10th anniversary this year, is an ecological water monitoring program developed for students from grade 6 to 12. This program allows youth to get out of their class and into the field to take water samples and study macroinvertebrates in order to determine the health of their local stream. The program also encourages them to take action to improve their local stream with the help of local community groups. A growing network is in place in Québec, Ontario and Prince Edward Island where over 4000 youth monitor local streams. In 2009, a version of the program for use in the non formal context is being piloted in protected areas across Canada including Riding Mountain, Banff and Fundy national Parks, Gatineau Park and Cap Tourmente Wildlife Area. This non formal version allows visitors to get involved in stream monitoring and will also provide the tools and support for local community groups to get involved in stream monitoring in their own backyard. A dynamic overview of this national program will be presented including a few of the activities. Park managers, teachers and volunteers, are all welcomed to join in!

Above session replaced by:
Forest Bureau of Investigation - "Wally the Walleye Murder Mystery"
Lesser Slave Forest Education Society and the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation
Presentation

Education for Sustainable Development Initiatives in Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro’s Role
Brendan Carruthers, Manitoba Hydro
This presentation is a discussion on the range of ESD initiatives in Manitoba with a focus on the cooperative approach by the Manitoba Department of Education and Manitoba Hydro working in partnership with key provincial educational organizations.
Presentation