Education is a key element of VLAWMO's mission.
An informed and connected community is a cornerstone of a healthy watershed. We can connect you with resources or help plan an educational activity for your classroom or community group.
Each year, VLAWMO brings learning opportunities to the watershed community. These events offer new information and community connecting points. Previous topics have included pollinator plantings, native plant basics, rain garden maintenance, and more. Check out our event calendar to find upcoming workshop opportunities.
Do you have a topic you'd like to see VLAWMO bring to the watershed? Contact staff to share your idea or request.
Whether through an in-person visit, a planning meeting, or the lending of materials for a water learning day, VLAWMO can support your classroom or community group's efforts to learn more about water. Peruse the resources below and reach out to VLAWMO staff with questions or requests.
Please note: VLAWMO has a small team with limited capacity. We will do our best to accommodate program requests, but we cannot guarantee availability. If we can't provide a program for your group, we will connect you with others to the best of our availability.
The materials below are available for community organizations, faith communities, scouting groups, businesses, and watershed residents. Contact VLAWMO staff to learn more or request a reservation.
Please note: use is restricted to venues within the VLAWMO watershed boundary.
Roots Display
This hands-on display illustrates the importance of native plants and their impact on soil health and water quality. The display features foldable arms and a stabilizing strap for tabletop use.
Stormwater Plinko
This game provides approachable water education for all ages. Players see which contaminants their water drop (air hockey puck) picks up along the way.
Storm Drain Cleanup Kit
This kit offers some of the key materials it takes to participate in a watershed service project. VLAWMO can equip your group to clean storm drains, promote the Adopt-a-Drain program to residents, and label drains with "dump no waste" markers to discourage illegal dumping.
Pollutant Bottles
This activity offers a tangible way for learners to discover common water pollutants. Each bottle illustrates a pollutant that comes from stormwater runoff. Participants guess what the pollutant is, then flip open the tab to read about it. Pollutants include chloride, cigarette butts, grass clippings, pet waste, and more.
Macroinvertebrates Kit
Be a water ecologist for the day with the help of this kit! Participants gather specimens from a local waterbody to identify them. With the help of the included materials, they learn to discern what the presence of these macroinvertebrates means for water quality.
Educators: VLAWMO staff can support you in planning a lesson with these materials. See also the "VLAWMO Watershed Resources" tab on this page for more information on curriculum that has been developed to complement these materials.
The resources below offer accessible entry points to watershed learning. If you have questions about any of our educational offerings or would like to learn more, contact Angela Hugunin, Communication & Outreach Coordinator.
This interactive workbook was developed by local Minnesota Water Stewards to offer a variety of activities for kids of all ages. Follow along to connect with the VLAWMO watershed and learn about the water in your community.
Help students gain skills in ecology, biology, data, and analysis by bringing live macroinvertebrates into the classroom or traveling to a nearby waterbody.
VLAWMO staff can join your class to guide students in sampling macroinvertebrates, identifying them, and using data to assess water quality. We can provide materials including nets, sampling supplies, and ID charts. Please contact VLAWMO at least 4 weeks in advance to organize one of these activities.
This activity is best suited to grades 4 and up, with group size up to 18-24.
Links to curriculum documents coming soon.
Developed by Minnesota Sea Grant and University of Minnesota Extension, this STEM activity takes approximately one hour and is best suited to middle school grades. Students deepen their understanding of water quality and land use considerations, practicing teamwork along the way.
VLAWMO can provide the game board and tools, as well as locally relevant information on our own watershed.
Learn more about the game and find corresponding educational standards on the Minnesota Sea Grant website.
Explore the watershed and discover local wildlife with these engaging Story Maps! Each one includes photos, stories, sounds, and maps. Viewers get a deeper understanding of the impact of different animals on the health of the watershed.
Visit the links below:
Frogs and Toads in the Watershed
Did you know that otters have been spotted right here in the VLAWMO watershed? To report your otter sightings in the watershed, please fill out this form with the Otters and Water project.
You can check out an updated map of otter spottings on the Otters and Water website.
Please note: this program is based in California, but readjusting the map view to Minnesota allows you to see all the otter activity in our watershed.
Keeping a rain garden attractive and functional requires routine maintenance. When rain garden care becomes part of a school's routine, the rain garden becomes an interactive outdoor classroom. VLAWMO can support your school in maintaining your rain garden or native planting.
Check back soon for rain garden maintenance materials.