Education and Outreach
Programs
The Water Conservation Office offers the following programs to the public about ways to conserve water supplies. Call (505) 896-8715 for more details or to schedule a program.
Youth
Would your class or group like an interactive and fun presentation? Water Conservation Office and Environmental Programs can tailor activities to your application, whether it is Girl Scout or Boy Scout badges, a particular unit on water in the classroom, or even just something different and fun.
Rio Rancho Children's Water Festival
Water education at the elementary school level is an important component of the water conservation initiative for the City of Rio Rancho in order to create a sustainable water supply by improving water use efficiency by its citizens, encouraging water management, and promoting water conservation. Rio Rancho has approximately 1,600 fourth grade students. Most of these students receive little or no formal water resource education. The Rio Rancho Children’s Water Festival improves the understanding of good water management principles by the students, teachers and parents who participate in this festival. The Festival reaches approximately 45 percent of Rio Rancho fourth grade students and teachers through this annual two-day event. The Festival will be held October 21 and October 22, 2010.
The principal focus of the Festival is to educate fourth grade school children about water and its relationship to human and other natural resources in a fun and interactive atmosphere. The program vision is to:
- Introduce students and teachers to new ideas, options and solutions so they will conserve and protect water for the future,
-Lay the foundation for further learning,
-Reach as many students and teachers as possible
The Festival has been designed specifically to introduce and explain new and unfamiliar water management tools to the present and future water users and managers. Research concerning water conservation education indicates the targeted group of the Festival, fourth grade students, is ideal for achieving long-term goals. Through sharing at home and with extended family, the expected 700 participants represent an ultimate audience of 10,000 to 15,000 people throughout the Festival program.
Raining on the watershed to show non-point source pollution.
Exploring those water bugs.
Science Fairs and Expos
More than 350 Rio Rancho students are anticipated to participate in the high schools science fairs each year. The Water Conservation Office supports the scientific endeavors of the students and funds an award “Every Drop Counts”. This award is for the best display of water conservation, water efficiency or water quality. “Water education for children makes for a smarter water future for Rio Rancho,” said Marian Wrage, who heads up the city’s Environmental Programs.
The second annual “Every Drop Counts” award for water conservation or water quality projects was given out at the 2010 Rio Rancho Science Fair to Brandon Schmidt and Daniel Jaramillo.
Their project titled “
Dilapidated Daphnia - the Study of How Run-Off Drugs in our Water Supply Affect Organisms” and the two young men showed how pharmaceutical drugs can affect aquatic life. Pharmaceutical drugs can enter the wastewater system from flushing old pills down the toilet and also from human liquid waste.
If you are a student or know a student who needs mentoring for the science expos, contact us for assistance and guidance (505) 896-8715.
Water Resource Training Kits
Through the Center for Hands-On Learning, the Water Conservation Office provides water resource kits to 7th grade students in the Rio Rancho Public Schools and includes teacher training to help incorporate lessons and activities into their curriculum. The Center for Hands-On-Learning is at 206 NM 528, (505) 896-1122.
Adults
Adult outreach includes:
- Water with the Seasons and the Weather watering guide.
- Xeriscape landscape and water conservation printed materials.
- Water Wise Demonstration Garden next to Esther Bone Memorial Library at 950 Pinetree Road.
- The garden is a beautiful, living example of water wise and xeriscape principles and techniques.