1. Youth Water Education
Needs Assessment
Amy Timmerman – University of Nebraska Extension Educator

2. Goals
• Determine curriculum being used for youth
water education
• Identify curriculum that make youth
knowledgeable, passionate and active in water
related issues
• Identify placed-based education
• Find gaps in program/curriculum either by age,
stewardship or engagement

3. Where to start
• Assessment of Universities
• Goal 15 respondents from all 12 states
• Assessment of Outside Partners
• Goal 3 respondents from all 12 states

4. University Assessment
230 completed – 9 States
3.91%
1.30%
7.39%
19.57%
5.65%
9.57%16.96%
13.48%
22.17%
Percent of Participation by University
Illinois Michigan State Missouri Nebraska NDSU Ohio State Purdue Extension SDSU Wisconsin
9
3
17
45
13
22
39
31
51
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Illinois Michigan
State
Missouri Nebraska NDSU Ohio State Purdue
Extension
SDSU Wisconsin
Number Participated by University

5. University Assessment
9
30
95
61
45
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Early Childhood (0-
PreK)
Early Elementary (K-2) Upper Elementary (3-
5)
Middle School (6-8) High School (9-12)
Number of Respondents By Age

6. University Assessment
Importance of Education Standards
Linear Scale (1 not important – 10 very important)
•6.9
State Standards
• 50 Yes, 23 No
Next Generation
• 20 Yes, 39 No
Common Core
• 19 Yes, 35 No

7. University Assessment
• Attitude = not my
expertise, priority, paid
• School = no space for
hands-on, no money for
buses, too many kids
• Time = in general
• Money = no specification
in how
• Personnel = need
additional help –
volunteers, community
involvement, dedicated
staff
• Supplies/programs =
more hands-on programs,
updated printed material

8. Outside Partners Assessment
46 completed – 7 States
2
4
2
3
30
3
2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Number Participated
• Soil & Water Conservation
District
• Natural Resource District
• Dept. of Environmental Quality
• Local Watershed Coalition
• Cranbrook Institute of Science
• Edgerton Explorit Center
• Private Nature Center
• Museum
• Sea Grant
• County Parks
• Project Learning Tree
• Envirothon

9. Outside Partners Assessment
14
26
39
32
22
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Early Childhood (0-PreK) Early Elementary (K-2) Upper Elementary (3-5) Middle School (6-8) High School (9-12)
Number of Respondent by Ages

10. Outside Partners Assessment
Importance of Education Standards
Linear Scale (1 not important – 10 very important)
•7.4
State Standards
• 28 Yes, 5 No
Next Generation
• 13 Yes, 15 No
Common Core
• 14 Yes, 15 No

11. TEAM*Dan Downing – University of Missouri
*Justin Hougham – University of Wisconsin
*Monica Day – Michigan State
*Kristi Lekies – The Ohio State University
*Zuzana Bohrerova – The Ohio State University
*Christine Wood – South Dakota State University
*Andrea Lorek Strauss – University of Minnesota
Brandon Schroeder – Michigan State
Katherin Jaeger – South Dakota State
Katrina Sally Widhom – University of Illinois
Bradley Cogdill – North Dakota State
Rebecca Power – NC Water Network
Amber Mase – NC Water Network
Anne Nardi – NC Water Network

12. Amy Timmerman
atimmerman2@unl.edu
402-336-2760
Twitter:@AmyTimmerman2