Flowing Forward

How Wisconsin Educators Are Using Water to Inspire Outdoor Learning

This summer, Wisconsin felt the weight of water—quite literally. Unprecedented rainfall overwhelmed storm systems, strained infrastructure, and brought flooding to the forefront of community conversations. But even amid the challenges, water has also become a powerful teacher.

Across the state, educators gathered to explore how water can inspire place-based learning that deepens students’ understanding of the environment and empowers them to care for it. Regional events, led by 18 Green & Healthy Schools fellows, used the theme of water to spark meaningful connections between educators, students, and place. Funded by the Departments of Public Instruction and Natural Resources and administered through partner organizations like Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education (WAEE), the events reached nearly 100 educators and generated energy for environmental education at the local level. 

Each event offered a unique window into Wisconsin’s diverse landscapes—marshes, rivers, lakes, gardens—and showcased how water education can move beyond the classroom.

One message is clear: water is more than a topic—it’s a pathway. A pathway to place-based learning, to outdoor exploration, and to helping students understand the systems that sustain life in Wisconsin.

Want to join the current?
Engage in new tools and techniques for teaching students about trees, city ecosystems, and community resilience. To stay in the loop about future events, sign up for the Green & Healthy Schools newsletter.