Water Education Photo Credit: Nate Meyer

Nate Meyer, Regional Extension Educator, Cloquet, 218-726-6473

Minnesotans have a strong tradition of celebrating their lakes and streams–ice-fishing and skiing in the winter, swimming, boating, fishing, and visiting the family cabin in the summer. So, it is not surprising that 1,000 residents, who responded to the statewide 2nd Minnesota Report Card on Environmental Literacy survey, considered “water pollution to be extremely important and an area not safeguarded enough.”

However, raising Minnesotan’s knowledge of water issues is still a concern. About half (45 percent) of respondents to the 2nd Minnesota Report Card on Environmental Literacy correctly answered three to five of five questions about water quality issues-receiving a passing grade. These results equate well nationally, but they leave plenty of room for increased success. Nearly a quarter (23 percent) of those surveyed answered zero to one correct–receiving a failing grade.

To increase the effectiveness of water quality education, staff from the University of Minnesota Extension Service, Minnesota Sea Grant, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, and the Great Lakes Aquarium collaborated on a July workshop for educators. Called Backyards to the Big Lake, this Duluthbased workshop engaged educators in three days of exploring streams, storm drains, lakes, resources, and methods to teach about water issues. Through funding from Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program and Minnesota Sea Grant’s successful View From the Lake program, the workshop culminated in a lake-tour aboard the L.L. Smith Jr., a Great Lakes research vessel, where educators investigated how changing land use impacts Lake Superior’s water quality.

Water Education Photo Credit: Nate Meyer

A specific goal of Backyards to the Big Lake was to form partnerships between classroom and non-classroom educators, interested citizens, state and regional professionals to strengthen water quality education. Using research, educational standards and personal experience, participants explored the questions: “What is important to know about water quality?” and “How and where can people learn about water quality?” They met with regional water quality professionals and identified ways to cooperate inside and outside of the classroom to increase Minnesotan’s access to education and understanding of water quality issues.

The Backyards to the Big Lake workshop served K-8 classroom teachers, non-classroom teachers, citizens and professionals interested in water quality education. It was held July 11–July 13 at the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth, MN. Contact Nate Meyer at 1-888-241-0724 for more details.

The Second Minnesota Report Card on Environmental Literacy: A Survey of Adult Environmental Knowledge, Attitudes and Behavior by Dr. Tony P. Murphy and others is available from the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance or online here.

Posted in Care of Shoreland Property, Lakes |