Participants will receive a stipend of $100 per day upon completion of the full program and teachers can claim up to 27 hours of continuing education credit. Photo courtesy of Solano Resource Conservation District

SOLANO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Teachers seeking a unique summer opportunity should look no further than the Solano Water Institute, held this year from July 28 through 30. This free three-day program hosted by the Solano Resource Conservation District includes a boat tour of Lake Berryessa and an interpretive hike around Rush Ranch Open Space, as well as time to network with other educators and plan for the upcoming school year while enjoying the natural world. 

Participants will spend the first day of the training at Rush Ranch Open Space, a Solano Land Trust property, learning about the ecology of the Suisun Marsh and hearing from experts from the Suisun Resource Conservation District. Brian Brown, California’s Project WET (Water Education Today) coordinator, will then lead teachers through water education activities that can be adapted for all ages in the classroom.

On the second day of the training, teachers will take a boat tour of Lake Berryessa and hear from an expert panel on Solano County’s water resources. Many past participants have noted this as a program highlight.

The third day of the training will include more time walking through activities in the Project Water Education Today curriculum at Dunnell Nature Center. Teachers will have the opportunity to share ideas as they consider how to connect the Solano Institute content to their classes in the fall.

Participants will receive a stipend of $100 per day upon completion of the full program and teachers can claim up to 27 hours of continuing education credit. Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day of the training. To conclude the program, teachers will come back together in October for a workshop day when they will share how they’ve applied the training’s content in their classrooms.

Teachers interested in joining the Solano Water Institute should register at www.solanorcd.org/events. Questions can be directed to Shea Kinser, education program manager, at [email protected].

The Solano Water Institute for Teachers is funded by the Solano County Orderly Growth Committee, with support from the California Department of Water Resources and the School Water Education Program (Solano County Water Agency; Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District; and the cities of Vacaville, Fairfield, Suisun City, Vallejo, Dixon and Benicia).

The workshop is hosted by Solano Resource Conservation District with support from Brian Brown, Project Water Education Today coordinator for California. 

For more information, visit online https://www.solanorcd.org/projects-and-programs/education/educator-workshops.html.