Project WET

Project WET
Name	Project WET
Formation	1993
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	Bozeman, Montana
Focus	Water education, stewardship

Project WET Project WET is a nonprofit organization focused on water education and stewardship for children and communities. The program develops curricula, training, and outreach initiatives that connect local water resources to classroom learning, community engagement, and policy conversations. It collaborates with a range of United Nations agencies, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, World Bank partners, and regional education systems to integrate water literacy across informal and formal learning settings.

Overview

Project WET provides bilingual and multilingual resources, educator workshops, and activity guides to support teaching about rivers, aquifers, watersheds, and water conservation. It links classroom activities to local institutions such as Smithsonian Institution, National Science Foundation, U.S. Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and regional museums. Materials address topics relevant to Yellowstone National Park, Great Lakes, Amazon River, Nile River, and other major hydrological features, aiming to inform students about water cycles, water quality, and human impacts on freshwater and estuarine systems. Project WET also partners with organizations including World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, WWF offices, and municipal water utilities in cities like Los Angeles, New York City, and Cape Town to promote stewardship.

History and Development

Founded in the early 1990s, the initiative emerged amid growing international concern exemplified by conferences such as the 1992 Earth Summit and programs like Agenda 21 and the Global Water Partnership. Early collaborators included agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and non-governmental organizations such as American Rivers and River Network. Over time, development incorporated input from academic institutions including Montana State University, Cornell University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Oxford, and research centers associated with Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Key milestones align with global policy events such as the World Water Forum and the Millennium Development Goals era, later adapting to frameworks from the Sustainable Development Goals and partnerships with UNESCO programs.

Programs and Materials

The organization publishes activity guides, teacher manuals, and digital tools that reference case studies from locations like Mississippi River, Colorado River, Mekong River, Ganges River, and Yangtze River. Materials are used alongside curricula from ministries of education in nations including Canada, Australia, South Africa, India, China, Brazil, and Germany. Training programs borrow pedagogical approaches informed by researchers affiliated with Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Cambridge, and Princeton University. Project WET’s toolkits often complement initiatives by Red Cross societies, UNICEF, World Health Organization, and municipal programs in Singapore and Tokyo addressing water supply, sanitation, and hygiene. Specialized modules focus on topics intersecting with conservation efforts by IUCN, Ramsar Convention, Convention on Biological Diversity, and regional basin commissions like the Colorado River Compact and Mekong River Commission.

Educational Impact and Outreach

Assessments of Project WET’s reach reference collaborative evaluations with bodies such as the National Academy of Sciences, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and state departments of education in California, Texas, Montana, and Florida. Outreach incorporates community science projects aligned with initiatives like the Citizen Science Association, watershed monitoring programs of the U.S. Geological Survey, and restoration projects with EPA Superfund communities. The program supports teacher professional development modeled on networks like Teach For America and district partnerships in metropolitan regions including Chicago, Houston, Seattle, and Phoenix. Outreach events frequently coincide with observances such as World Water Day and link to campaigns by Earthwatch and GlobalGiving.

Organizational Structure and Funding

Project WET operates through a central secretariat and a network of state, provincial, and national coordinators, collaborating with partners such as Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, and local utilities like Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and Thames Water. Funding sources have included foundations like the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, and grants from multilateral institutions including the World Bank and regional development banks. Corporate partnerships have involved companies in the water and beverage sectors with oversight to align with nonprofit standards from organizations such as Independent Sector and accounting practices recognized by Grant Thornton and auditing frameworks similar to those used by KPMG.

International Partnerships and Recognition

Project WET’s international collaborations span UNICEF country offices, UNESCO Associated Schools, bilateral aid agencies like USAID and DFID, regional development organizations such as the Asian Development Bank and Inter-American Development Bank, and NGOs including SOS Children's Villages and CARE International. Recognition includes endorsements and collaborative awards from environmental networks and conferences like the World Water Week, partnerships featured at summits hosted by UN Water and inclusion in resource lists from institutions such as OECD and European Commission educational programs. The program’s materials have been translated and adapted for cultural contexts in regions served by organizations like Mercy Corps, Oxfam, and national ministries responsible for water resources and environment.

Category:Non-profit organizations