Education

Our goals for education

1. to add watershed components to existing educational programs in central and northern Arizona and
2. to sponsor new events to train educators in areas related to watershed and riparian biology, hydrology, and resource management.

NAU courses

BIO 571 Humans and the Verde

Offered in Spring 2013, this course was web-based with a field trip to the Verde Valley. The course used the Verde River as a model system to study the hydrology of desert rivers, ecological impacts of flow diversion, the ecology of aquatic and riparian food webs, invasive species ecology, and restoration ecology. Find out more here.

ENV 399 Environmental Science of the Verde River

This course was offered in Spring 2012 to study the ecology, hydrology, and water policy of the Verde River. Find out more here.

Educational outreach

WREP works with partners in the region, including the Verde River Natural Resource Conservation District in Yavapai County and the Willow Bend Environmental Education Center in Coconino County to deliver a variety of educational outreach experiences.

River restoration and management educator’s workshop

In July 2012, WREP convened a workshop on the Restoration and Management of the Verde River. Twelve educators from K-12 programs, Verde Natural Resources Conservation District, and Grand Canyon Youth, participated in a tour of non-native plant removal efforts on the Verde corridor, followed by a kayak trip down the river to observe native/non-native fish and plants and flow diversion. The tour included a tour of the Bubbling Ponds Native Fish Hatchery to discuss fish restoration efforts. Find out more here.

Montezuma Well invasive species middle-school field trips

In October 2012, WREP provided graduate student guides for a field trip for Verde Valley middle students that was held at Montezuma Well and hosted by Lynda Zanolli of the Verde Natural Resources Conservation District Education Program. Four NAU graduate students assisted Ms. Zanolli and park staff with student activities on the topic of invasive species and several school groups were given the opportunity to participate in these activities over the course of three days. See the flyer for this event here.

Fossil Creek field trip

WREP recently partnered with the Centennial Forest Environmental Education Summer Camp Program to host a field trip to Fossil Creek.

Teacher training event

Focusing on southwestern stream management and ecology, co-sponsored by the Center for Science Teaching and Learning at NAU and by Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Bubbling Ponds Native Fish Hatchery.