Mark Egbert, District Manager, El Dorado & Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation Districts, Mark.Egbert@ca.usda.gov
What happens when you bring students outdoors, give them tools to explore, and invite them to see their environment through a new lens? At the 29th Annual Watershed Education Summit (WES) led by the El Dorado & Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation Districts, the answer was a memorable blend of discovery, connection, and a deeper appreciation for the watersheds that sustain us.
This year’s WES brought together local students, educators, resource professionals, and community partners for a four‑day immersion in watershed health and environmental stewardship. From collecting scientific data to learning from Indigenous cultural traditions to exploring the night sky, students discovered firsthand how the natural world works and why protecting it matters.
The WES program opened with a meaningful ceremony led by Kimberly ShiningStar Petree, Tume'lay Nisenan Miwok Culture Keeper and Executive Director of Cosumnes Culture and WaterWays. Through stories and songs, Petree shared the deep connections between people and the land, and encouraged students to serve as caretakers of the environment.
Throughout the program, students engaged in a variety of experiential learning activities. Working across three streams in the Crystal Basin watershed, students conducted hands-on research using 10 scientific monitoring protocols. These protocols collected data on aquatic organisms and habitats, water quality and flow, forest and vegetation conditions, stream conditions and surveying, and wildlife observations. Together, these measurements help paint a clearer picture of watershed health and the conditions of riparian ecosystems.
The spirit of connection shared by Kimberly ShiningStar Petree carried throughout the program, encouraging students to look beyond the numbers and to see relationships and patterns that support interconnected ecosystems. For many of them, stepping into the field and engaging directly with the landscape brought science to life in a way that the classroom cannot.
WES is supported by a wide network of partners, many of whom are also members of Headwaters Connect, including the El Dorado & Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation Districts, Eldorado National Forest, County of El Dorado, and the American River Conservancy. Their continued collaboration helps ensure that opportunities like WES remain accessible and impactful for local youth. Helping young people understand how watersheds work and giving them the tools to observe, measure, and appreciate them is an important step toward protecting natural resources for generations to come.