Aquatic Studies – Hands-on activity that gives children an opportunity to go “Critter Dippin’” in a local creek, pothole, marsh or lake.  This program familiarizes students with life in aquatic environments and their relationships to water quality.

Aquifer Education - Using an aquifer model, staff members teach about groundwater aquifers and touch on water movement through soils, risks of contamination and protection of aquifers.

Canupawakpa Nature Trail – This self-guided 1km trail was developed from 1998-1999 just north of Reston along the Pipestone Creek.  More than 400 visitors signed the guest book in the first summer that the trail was open.  Tourists from around the world visit.   Staff provides guided tours to school classes and this is a favorite with 4-H members during annual rallies.  Click here for more.

Classroom Conservation – Schools are provided with $1000 to purchase environmental resource materials for libraries or classrooms or to go on educational field trips. 

Clean Stream Team – This hands-on program gets students involved in assessing the health of streams, researching methods of improving and protecting streams and stream banks and making recommendations to cooperating landowners for improvements.  In some projects students actually take part in repairs by planting trees and grass on repaired areas. click here for photos

Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Center – WSRCD sponsors and funds this interpretive program provided by the interpreters from Oak Hammock.  A variety of programs teach students about wildlife, ecosystems, watersheds and even outer space.

Watershed Models – Students are asked to define a watershed and identify some of the issues that may affect the health of the watershed.  Students then discuss what actions could be taken in order to increase the sustainability of the watershed, and ensure its health for the future.  All of this is done using a watershed model that highlights high risk areas such as municipal infrastructure, agricultural areas, recreation and construction sites, as well as urban dwellings.

Southwest Manitoba Water Festival – This is a cooperative project hosted by four conservation districts including WSRCD.  The Water Festival takes place in Souris along the Plum Creek and teaches students about the many different aspects of water.  Students visit different stations to learn about the water cycle, protection and use, healthy verses unhealthy riparian areas, and aquatic food chains to name a few.  Four hundred grade 4 to 6 students took part in the 2006 festival.  Thirty to 40 volunteers man the stations. (click on photos)