Date: July 24, 2003

Santa Clara Valley Water District receives youth environmental-education award

SAN JOSE — The Santa Clara Valley Water District’s continuing efforts to educate youth about the importance of water health and conservation have been honored by science education advocates Youth Science Institute.

A Partnership in Education award was presented to the water district during the Youth Science Institute’s recent “Dinner in the Dirt” celebration.

The water district’s school program has reached more than 100,000 young people with educational, interactive lessons on every water topic imaginable since its inception eight years ago. The program offers age-appropriate school presentations and tours for students in pre-Kindergarten through college.

Some of the lessons include magic shows demonstrating the importance of watersheds, conservation-awareness activities, as well as puppet plays with scripts that stress caring for water and the environment. The school program is offered in both English and Spanish.

In addition to the classroom educational-outreach effort, the district’s school program publishes Aquacycles, a bi-annual newsletter that lets teachers and administrators know about upcoming events and new water education resources.

Youth Science Institute was founded 50 years ago by Edwin Hubble. The organization is “dedicated to providing and enriching science education in schools and the community,” as well as developing increased awareness of the relationship between “people and the natural world.” Today the institute reaches 50,000 participants annually.

“Dinner in the Dirt,” billed as a “celebration of 50 years of science education for the young people of Santa Clara Valley,” honored community organizations dedicated to the same principle the institute values: educating youth on environmental issues.
The City of San José Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services and the County of Santa Clara Parks and Recreation Department were also among the honorees.

“Dinner in the Dirt” was held June 25 at San Jose’s Alum Rock Park.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages Santa Clara County's wholesale drinking water resources, coordinates flood protection for its 1.7 million residents and provides stewardship for the county's 10 reservoirs and more than 700 miles of streams.