Yavapai County 4-H delivers water education through Wild Over Water program

Living in a desert environment, it is important for everyone to understand and value one of our most precious and scarcest resources ... water.

Arizona depends on limited water supplies from rivers, such as the Colorado, aquifers and not very much rainfall at all. Kids need to understand that the water here isn’t unlimited. To this end, the University of Arizona Yavapai County Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program offers Wild Over Water, a multi-lesson outreach program that is delivered in fourth-grade classrooms countywide. Through Wild Over Water, students are engaged in a variety of concepts related to water.

Water’s Incredible Journey takes students on a trip through Earth’s natural water cycle as they roll cubes that determine where, as water molecules, they could be. Beads of different colors are collected as souvenirs along the way, allowing the kids to make water cycle bracelets to take home.

Understanding Groundwater demonstrates how surface water and groundwater are connected, that groundwater pumping and both natural and artificial recharge cause changes to the water table, and that groundwater is a finite resource.

Exploring Watersheds puts students in charge of planning the location of a town, farm, landfill and mine on fictitious terrain. They then spray water on their ‘land’ to  learn about how pollution can affect our water.

Water Use and Conservation teaches students about Arizona water sources, how our water is used and ways it can be conserved. A concept new to most is virtual water, the water used to grow the food we eat and create the products and resources we use, which contributes to our water footprint.

Then & Now explores how accessibility to and use of water have changed through history and how it is not equitable around the world. Students also learn how water-saving technologies and low-water use appliances can help to conserve in our homes.

Crack the Code is an escape room-type challenge through which students learn about the urban water cycle - the journey water makes in a city - from groundwater pumping to storage, use and recharge.

Water Careers exposes students to careers related to the water we use as they act as planners of a new town responsible for delivering water to their citizens while protecting the natural environment.

From the food we eat to the parks we play in, water makes Arizona livable.

Understanding where it comes from helps kids appreciate its value. Healthy rivers, wetlands and groundwater support plants, animals and ecosystems unique to Arizona. Kids who learn about water are more likely to care for the environment. Learning that simple actions like turning off the faucet, fixing leaks, or using water-efficient landscaping can make a big difference. Starting those habits young builds lifelong conservation practices.

Water has shaped Arizona’s history, from indigenous communities’ irrigation canals to modern cities’ reliance on the Central Arizona Project. Through Wild Over Water, kids gain perspective on how vital water has always been here. Today’s children will be tomorrow’s decision-makers. Learning about water use, conservation, and technology helps prepare them to solve future challenges.

Stacy DeVeau is the STEM program coordinator for the 4-H Youth Development Program with Yavapai County Cooperative Extension. She holds a master's degree in education and delivers the Wild Over Water Program.