The time to invest in our children’s water education is now.
Please donate! 

What an “eye-opening” experience I had and would like to share with you: Having recently joined Roaring Fork Conservancy, I want to learn everything about our education programs. One that is most important to me is our children’s program conducted throughout the schools in the Roaring Fork Valley. I have always felt strongly that we must teach our children, and they in turn will educate their parents, about the conservation of our water resources.

Are you aware that our education staff is invited by both public and private schools to actively teach water conservation to school children from Aspen to Glenwood Springs? Unless you have children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews attending one of our schools, you probably had no idea, just as I did not. In 2010 alone our staff taught over 5,000 school children in the valley and has reached over 58,000 since 1998. 

I had the privilege to witness our staff teach several fourth grade, sixth grade, and high school classes. It became quite obvious to me that water education taught an hour a day once a month over the entire school year makes a huge difference. The sixth graders were astonishing! Many of them remembered and discussed what they had learned from our staff in the fourth grade about riparian areas, the tundra, the meaning of watershed, and how we must conserve and keep our waters clean. Our staff teaches relevant, place-based topics in a fun and interactive way. 

While we receive minimal funding from the schools, this will become even less due to school budget cuts. When asked about the value of our inschool education program, teachers without fail said they could not teach what our staff teaches because the schools do not have the equipment or first hand knowledge of rivers and water resources. Our curriculum reinforces the schools’ curriculum on water, science, social studies, civics, and mathematics. 

These children are our future leaders. We owe it to them to have every opportunity to be successful in whatever endeavor they choose. One of them may be a future water engineer, congressman or congresswoman, science teacher or fishing guide. Every one will have a clear understanding of the importance of water and what it means to their future. We must invest in their future. 

I am asking you to help us continue our children’s educational programs in the Roaring Fork Valley schools by sending a donation to Roaring Fork Conservancy earmarked 100% for these programs. Please take this opportunity to make a donation to Roaring Fork Conservancy so we may continue our important education programs for our children. 

Sincerely, 

Sarah Woods
Director of Philanthropy