Project WET’s History Phase I: 1984 – 1989. Project WET Created The original Project WET program was established in 1984 by the North Dakota State Water Commission in the agency’s planning division. The purpose was to educate the public about water resources and their management and, based on significant interest teachers and youth, the Commission elected to focus part of its education efforts on reaching children through teachers and nonformal educators. Project WET’s mission, goal, core beliefs, and the first set of activities were created in North Dakota. Phase II: 1989 – 2005. Research and Development, Publishing, and Project WET Network Expansion In 1989, the director of Project WET was invited by Montana State University, with funding form the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, to pilot the Project WET program in Montana, Idaho, and later Arizona. The success of this pilot multi-state initiative led to a decision by Reclamation to fund the development of the research and publication of the Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide (1995) and the establishment of the Project WET USA network which now has programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Project WET published over 40 diverse water education guides and books for children and teachers between 1995 and 2005 and expanded the Project WET network to 17 countries. Project WET left Montana State University June 30, 2005 to become an independent Foundation. Phase III: 2005 – present. Project WET International Foundation The Project WET International Foundation was established on July 1, 2005 as a nonprofit organization. The Foundation will carry forward the development and implementation of Project WET worldwide. The programs of the Project WET International Foundation include: Project WET (21 countries), Discover a Watershed Series, Native Waters, Urban Waters, Healthy Water/Healthy People, Kids In Discovery Series (KIDs), Conserve Water, Ground Water, WETKits, and WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands. The Project WET International Foundation is located in Bozeman, Montana, USA. The work of Project WET is annually supported by thousands of individuals and organizations that purchase materials, grants and contracts from public and private sector donors, and founding global sponsors Nestle Waters and Valerie Gates. The Children’s Water Education Fund has been established to raise funds for global water education initiates. |
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