With the help of DEQ and DNRC education grants, the Council was able to bring Missouri River and natural resource education to the Middle Reach. In May 2007, the Council hosted the “Native Waters: Sharing the Source” exhibit at the Fort Benton Ag Museum. The exhibit travels throughout the United States and uses interactive cultural and scientific features to educate people about the Missouri River and the connectivity of people throughout the basin. Additionally, the Council worked with the Montana Watercourse to present an Educator’s Workshop focused on bringing Missouri River-specific activities into their classroom lessons as well as using the “Native Waters” exhibit as a field trip. Understanding that funding for field trips and events that put students in touch with the resources is often at a premium in many schools, the Council co-sponsored one school field trip through the exhibit.

Native Waters Website
http://www.projectwet.org/nativewaters/

Montana Watercourse Website
http://www.mtwatercourse.org/

Here’s what the kids and teachers had to say about the experience:

What our Kids are Saying About the Missouri River:

“I wish that the river will be here for my future family”

“I wish there was no such thing as pollution”

“I think it should be there for the deer and elk so I can go hunting”

“I wish water not to be wasted and for it to be cherished”

“I wish for lots of good water so we can drink it and be healthy”

Those were some of the elementary students’ wishes for the water, written while exploring the “Native Waters: Sharing the Source” exhibit.

What the Teachers had to say about the Educator’s Workshop:

When asked what were the most important concepts they learned from the workshop, teachers responded:

“Wow! How large the Missouri Watershed is – how many (people) impact the river and how what we do impacts the river”

“I can do a better job of teaching water conservation – the river is there – find a way to use it.”

When asked how the workshop impacted their awareness of water as a resource, teachers responded:

“Impact on water, regardless of residential, agricultural or commercial usage.”

“Awareness of conserving water and preserving habitat;

awareness of all parties jockeying for water.”

“How (its) connected – the limitations and demands.”

While only one of the ten teachers could list three sources of pollution and accurately label them as “point source” or “non point source” prior to the workshop, seven of them could at the conclusion of the workshop.