Mt. Tamalpais & Bon Tempe Reservoir by Nefi De Moraes, Sun Valley Elementary School

Our programs are designed to support California education standards while fostering water conservation and environmental stewardship.

For a downloadable brochure of our programs, click here.

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FIELD TRIPS TO THE MT. TAMALPAIS WATERSHED

For all field trips, school is responsible for providing transportation to and from the watershed location, unless school qualifies for a school bus reimbursement. 

Water Walk, Grades 3-5

Join us on a walking tour of the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed and learn about ecology, water supply, and water conservation. This field trip is designed to teach students about the source and use of their water while inspiring them to take action to conserve this precious resource. A typical Water Walk field trip covers approximately two miles of fairly flat terrain and takes about 2.5 hours to complete. A classroom visit prior to or following the field trip is encouraged. Limit: 30 students per field trip. For additional information or to schedule, contact MMWD at (415) 945-1458 or schoolprogram@marinwater.org.

Watershed Ecology & Restoration, Grade 3-5

Bring your students outdoors to the beautiful Mt. Tamalpais Watershed to gain an appreciation for this unique natural environment. A typical field trip lasts three hours and includes hands-on experience with habitat restoration. Students also will enjoy a high-energy ecology game and receive an introduction to our water’s path from “watershed to tap.” A classroom visit prior to the field trip date prepares participants and provides an opportunity to assess pre-field trip knowledge. We can accommodate up to 30 students per trip. For additional information or to schedule, contact MMWD at (415) 945-1128 or volunteerprogram@marinwater.org.

Field Science & Restoration, Grades 9-12

Our field science trips for high school students are designed to provide hands-on experience with habitat restoration and environmental science. A typical field trip lasts three hours and includes an introduction to the ecology of the watershed, a quantitative field biology lesson on sudden oak death and invasive plant species, and a field work component. Students learn about the ecology of our local watershed and forests, as well as water conservation and supply, while contributing to meaningful scientific research. A classroom visit prior to the field trip date prepares participants and provides an opportunity to assess pre-field trip knowledge. We can accommodate up to 50 students per trip. For additional information or to schedule, contact MMWD at (415) 945-1128 or volunteerprogram@marinwater.org.

Water Conservation & Supply, Grades 3-12

Let an MMWD water expert teach your students about the water cycle, our local water supply, watershed ecology, and water conservation. These fun and informative classroom presentations last 30-45 minutes and can be scheduled alone or in conjunction with the “Do-It-Yourself Water Conservation” program described below. Bilingual (Spanish-English) presentations are available. For additional information or to schedule, contact MMWD at (415) 945-1458 or schoolprogram@marinwater.org.

Do-It-Yourself Water Conservation, Grades 3-12

Take action to save water now! An MMWD water expert will visit your classroom and teach your students how to check and improve their water use efficiency at home using a “Do-It-Yourself Water Conservation Kit.” MMWD will provide free showerheads and faucet aerators to replace wasteful ones, as well as a small prize to each student who completes the work. Parental assistance is necessary to complete the home evaluation work. For additional information or to schedule, contact MMWD at (415) 945-1458 or schoolprogram@marinwater.org.

History of MMWD and Preservation of Mt. Tamalpais

In celebration of the district's 100th anniversary on April 25, 2012, Jack Gibson wrote the book, Images of America: Mount Tamalpais and the Marin Municipal Water District. The book is about the development of MMWD from a collection of privately held water purveyors to a publicly owned agency that provides drinking water to 185,000 residents of south and central Marin and protects and preserves the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed. Jack Gibson has been on the MMWD Board of Directors since 1995. He is an avid historian, a former high school history teacher and practicing local attorney. Mr. Gibson is an engaging speaker who can tailor his history talk to the needs of your students. For additional information or to schedule, contact MMWD at (415) 945-1592 or eignatius@marinwater.org.

WATER QUALITY LAB TOURS  

Grades 9-12

Experience a working environmental science laboratory on a tour of MMWD’s Water Quality Laboratory. This tour introduces students to current drinking water regulations, analyses and instrumentation, as well as the specifics of water quality here in MMWD’s service area. The tours are suitable for high school science classes and are offered on a limited basis as staff time allows. We can accommodate 25 students in the lab at one time. Tours last about 45 minutes. For additional information or to schedule, contact MMWD at (415) 945-1550 or jmitchell@marinwater.org.

ASSEMBLIES

The Musical Watershed, Grades K-6

Learn all about watersheds and water conservation in a lively and humorous musical performance! This show is presented by ZunZun, an award-winning performing arts group specializing in environmental education. Minimum attendance of 100 students is required. Bilingual (Spanish-English) shows are available. Contact ZunZun at (831) 426-0684 or www.zunzuntunes.com to schedule.

SERVICE LEARNING

Grades 5-College

Students ages ten and up can earn service learning credits by volunteering on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed. Reserve a spot at one of our Saturday Trail Crew or Habitat Restoration events. Or, train to be a Turtle Observer and monitor the lakes and educate the public about our native pond turtles in the spring. Customized field projects may be available by request. Youth under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. For additional information or to schedule, contact MMWD at (415) 945-1128 or volunteerprogram@marinwater.org.

PARTNER PROGRAM

Trout in the Classroom, Grades K-12

Through the process of hatching trout eggs and releasing fish in a creek on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed, students gain a deep understanding of the importance of clean habitat, what animals need to survive, and the role students can play to make this happen. Teachers complete a workshop and receive financial and volunteer assistance through North Bay Trout Unlimited, California Department of Fish and Game, MMWD, and AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards Project. For information, visit classroomaquarium.org or contact Ethan Rotman at erotman@dfg.ca.gov.

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School Bus Reimbursements

MMWD will reimburse transportation costs, up to $500, to qualifying schools that might not otherwise be able to visit the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed. In order to qualify, your school must be considered by the California Department of Education to have a statistically significant number of students participating in the free or reduced-price lunch program. For additional information or to request an application, contact MMWD at (415) 945-1458 or schoolprogram@marinwater.org.

Program Information

All programs are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to change or cancellation at any time, without prior notification. To qualify, schools must be located in the Marin Municipal Water District’s service area.

We welcome your feedback and your ideas for other water education programs. Email us at schoolprogram@marinwater.org.