"World Water Day is an opportunity to underscore the importance of water education as a solution to pressing water issues," said Dennis Nelson, Project WET's president and CEO. "Reaching people around the world with effective water education-especially children and youth-promotes responsible water stewardship now and in the future."

Nelson is leading a World Water Day training at Nestlé Waters Management and Technology (MT) today in Paris, France. Employees will be trained in Project WET's hands-on, interactive water education materials, a train-the-trainer process that will allow employees to participate in future water festivals with local participants. Nestlé Waters will also be hosting "We Care" water festivals featuring Project WET activities in 28 markets around the world.

In Beijing, China, Project WET Senior Vice President John Etgen signed a formal agreement at the Chinese Parliament to extend Project WET's pilot water education and conservation program with 121 schools in Shanghai to schools in Beijing. Supported by Nestlé Waters, the children's water education program in Beijing kicked off with Etgen leading a group of fourth graders from one of China's top schools, the Peking University Primary School, in science-based water education activities.

In the United States, Project WET has created an online training course for Project WET facilitators and Nestlé Waters North America employees to learn about watersheds and deliver a lesson on the topic in their own community. In addition, DiscoverWater.org, Project WET's online interactive learning experience for children, offers free lessons on nine different water themes, including the vitally important concept of "virtual water"—the water that is used to make the food and products everyone consumes. Understanding virtual water is key to understanding the theme of this year's World Water Day celebrations, Water and Food Security.

About the Project WET Foundation: Since 1984, Project WET, an award-winning U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has dedicated itself to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education. Winner of the 2012 U.S. Water Prize, Project WET is active in all 50 U.S. states and in more than 60 countries worldwide.

Contact: Nicole Rosenleaf Ritter, Communication Specialist, Project WET Foundation
Phone: (406) 585-4115 | Email

"These six water champions are showing America how to innovate, integrate and educate for water sustainability and economic success," explained Alliance President Ben Grumbles.

The other U.S. Water Prize winners are PepsiCo Frito-Lay Inc., Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, Philadelphia Water Department, Salmon Falls Watershed Collaborative and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

The Clean Water America Alliance said that the Project WET Foundation had been selected "for its success in building an extensive, grass-roots network of school and community educators." The program reaches thousands of formal and non-formal educators and millions of children annually with water-science education locally and globally.

U.S. Water Prize winners will be honored in a special ceremony on Monday, April 23, 2012, at the Washington Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C. National water and environmental leaders will attend the celebration. Each recipient will receive a handcrafted, water-inspired, ceramic art work commissioned from internationally acclaimed potter Miranda Thomas.

The Clean Water America Alliance created and administers the U.S. Water Prize to recognize achievement and inspire action for water sustainability. Brown and Caldwell, Veolia North America, CH2M HILL, MWH, Pirnie/ARCADIS, CDM Smith and HDR are among the proud sponsors of the 2012 U.S. Water Prize.

About Project WET: Since 1984, the Project WET Foundation, an award-winning U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has dedicated itself to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education. Project WET is active in all 50 U.S. states and in more than 50 countries worldwide.

About the Clean Water America Alliance: Formed in 2008, the Clean Water America Alliance is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization whose goal is to unite people and policies for water sustainability. A broad cross-section of interests is coming together through the Alliance to advance holistic, watershed-based approaches to water quality and quantity challenges. For more information, visit www.CleanWaterAmericaAlliance.org or contact lloken@CWAA.us.

Contact: Nicole Rosenleaf Ritter, Communication Specialist, Project WET Foundation
Phone: (406) 585-4115 | Email

Bozeman, Mont.—The Project WET Foundation is partnering with the Houston Chapter of the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) to teach more than 100 Houston-area students about fundamental water concepts at a "Make a Splash" Water Festival. With games, races and other interactive learning methods, the Leap Day event will allow participants to learn about water in a fun and hands-on way.

"Most of us take water for granted," said Major Jones, the president of the NBRPA-Houston Chapter. "After meeting with Project WET and seeing the difference water makes in people's lives, the NBRPA-Houston Chapter is delighted to join forces with Project WET to educate everyone on just how valuable water really is."

"Given the recent severe drought in Houston, the nation's fourth largest city, raising awareness about how we use water is more important than ever," Project WET Senior Vice President John Etgen added. "We're thrilled to join together with Houston's NBA Legends to tackle this vital issue."

Middle and high school students from the Tekoa Charter School will participate in the half-day event, which will be held on the campus of Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston. Approximately 20 NBA Legends will join Project WET's water education experts to conduct five different learning stations. Station activities will cover water topics such as the water cycle, the role of water in health, international water issues and the need for cooperation in water management.

Based on the award-winning Project WET curriculum used nationwide, the Make a Splash Water Festival provides a solid educational framework for teachers and students to engage with the topic of water. While grounded in water science principles, the water festival also promotes a multidisciplinary and interactive approach to learning by incorporating social studies, geography, language arts, fine art and history. The event also fosters awareness of, and respect for, water resources, encouraging a personal, lifelong commitment of responsibility and positive community participation.

About Project WET: Since 1984, the Project WET Foundation, an award-winning U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has dedicated itself to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education. Project WET is active in all 50 U.S. states and in more than 55 countries worldwide. Learn more at www.projectwet.org.

About NBRPA-Houston Chapter: A non-profit organization comprised of former professional basketball players committed to developing and utilizing their community stature to support and participate in socially responsible initiatives that focus on, but are not limited to, education, health and children's causes. Learn more at www.nbrpahouston.org.

Contact: Nicole Rosenleaf Ritter, Communication Specialist, Project WET Foundation

"DiscoverWater.org's selection as a Digital Media and Learning Awards Stage One winner confirms that it is an engaging and effective way to reach kids with valuable information about the importance of water for all people and to help teachers bring the topic of water into their classroom in a fun and appealing way," said Project WET's Laurina Lyle, PhD, who headed up the DiscoverWater.org creative team.

Held in collaboration with the Mozilla Foundation, the competition is part of the 4th Digital Media and Learning Competition funded by the MacArthur Foundation and administered by HASTAC. The Badges for Lifelong Learning Competition is designed to encourage the creation of digital badges and badge systems that support, identify, recognize, measure, and account for new skills, competencies, knowledge, and achievements for 21st century learners wherever and whenever learning takes place. In the case of DiscoverWater.org, two sets of badges-one for students and one for teachers-would recognize learning around the content of each of eight subject areas as well as broader skills.

Other winning applications represent a wide array of public and private institutions and organizations from around the world, including museums, non-profits, after-school programs, research institutions and for-profit companies. The applications are available for public perusal and commenting at www.dmlcompetition.net. Stage Two, which seeks badge system design and tech proposals that respond to Stage One winning content, opened earlier this week.

About the Project WET Foundation: A world leader in water education, Project WET (WET stands for "Water Education for Teachers") has nearly 30 years of experience creating and publishing original water education materials. An award-winning U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization active in all 50 U.S. states and more than 56 countries, Project WET is dedicated to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education.

Contact: Nicole Rosenleaf Ritter, Communication Specialist, Project WET Foundation

"DiscoverWater.org is exciting, inviting and fun for kids, and it's a great tool for educators and parents who want to help kids understand how crucial water is to all of us," explains Dr. Laurina Lyle of the Project WET Foundation, which designed the site with support from Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA).

Targeting learners aged eight to 12, DiscoverWater.org shows children how water affects them—and how they can affect water. The web experience also brings important water lessons to life in a way that makes learning fun and encourages today's children to be tomorrow's responsible stewards of water resources.

"At NWNA, we believe that getting children excited about water is one of the best ways to impact present and future water resources and water management," explains Heidi Paul, vice president of corporate affairs for NWNA. "We are proud to partner with the Project WET Foundation to launch this new learning tool."

DiscoverWater.org combines kid-friendly illustrations and animation with interactive, science-based activities covering everything from the water cycle and oceans to water conservation and the role of water in the human body. Students can also collect "Take Action" items throughout the site and create their own personalized printable "Take Action Poster" to help them remember how they can conserve and protect water.

For educators and parents, the website provides additional, teacher-specific resources such as assessment methods and supporting activities. DiscoverWater.org is aligned with National Science Standards and has been field tested with educators and children.

About the Project WET Foundation: A world leader in water education, Project WET (WET stands for "Water Education for Teachers") has nearly 30 years of experience creating and publishing original water education materials. An award-winning U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization active in all 50 U.S. states and more than 56 countries, Project WET is dedicated to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education.

About Nestlé Waters North America: With 35 years of experience with healthy hydration in the bottled water segment, Nestlé Waters produces six regional spring water brands in the U.S., three international brands and Nestlé Pure Life, its nationally distributed purified bottled water. Sales for NWNA topped $4 billion in 2010. The company's dedication to quality, employee development and bringing shared value to communities-along with its commitments to environmental stewardship-have led Nestlé Waters to the number one bottled-water position in the U.S.

Contact: Dr. Laurina Isabella Lyle, Project WET USA Executive Director

"The Sustaining the Blue Planet conference has attracted a wonderfully diverse group to Bozeman," said Dennis Nelson, the CEO and President of the Project WET Foundation, the nonprofit organization that is sponsoring the conference. "We are excited to welcome so many prominent leaders and are looking forward to productive discussions that lead to future action on pressing global water issues."

NASA Educator Astronaut Ricky Arnold, Harvard University Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology Dr. Frank Hu, and Danish actress and humanitarian Connie Nielsen are among the featured speakers. Arnold will present the conference's opening lecture, providing his view of the "Blue Planet" from space. Dr. Hu—along with researchers from the International Chair on Cardio-metabolic Risk (ICCR)—will present the results of new research about hydration and childhood obesity on Thursday. Nielsen—who stars in the new Starz drama Boss opposite Kelsey Grammer—will discuss her work on sustainable sanitation solutions with the Human Needs Project in the dense, informal settlements of Nairobi, Kenya.

Other presenters and participants represent international organizations like UNESCO and UN Habitat, multinational corporations including Intel, Microsoft, Google, Nestlé Waters and Abbott, government agencies such as NOAA and NASA, and primary and secondary schools as well as colleges and universities both in the United States and abroad. The Project WET Foundation will also unveil its new Project WET Curriculum & Activity Guide, Generation 2.0 and accompanying teacher portal as well as its new web experience for children, DiscoverWater.org. Evening events include the launch of the "Discover the Waters of Our National Parks" project (a new partnership between the National Park Service and Project WET), the One World, One Water lecture and a closing Call to Action, which will be combined with a traditional Montana feast and live music.

Conference sponsors include Nestlé Waters, UN Habitat, Abbott and Rio Tinto. More information about Sustaining the Blue Planet: Global Water Education Conference, including a link to the full agenda, can be found at www.projectwet.org/blueplanet.

About Project WET: Since 1984, the Project WET Foundation, an award-winning U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has dedicated itself to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education. Project WET is active in all 50 U.S. states and in more than 50 countries worldwide. Learn more at www.projectwet.org.

Bozeman, MT—A NASA astronaut and aquanaut, a Harvard University professor of nutrition and epidemiology and a noted actress fighting to improve sanitation in the slums of Kenya are among the speakers at the upcoming Sustaining the Blue Planet: Global Water Education Conference being held in Bozeman, Mont., next month. Convened by nonprofit water education organization the Project WET Foundation, Sustaining the Blue Planet will bring together educators, NGOs, corporations, government agencies and international organizations to increase the reach of effective water education that leads to sustainable action to solve pressing water problems.

NASA Educator Astronaut Richard R. Arnold, II will give the opening lecture on September 14th, providing his view of the "Blue Planet" from above the Earth and under the ocean. Harvard professor Dr. Frank Hu—in the news this month for a study on diet and Type II Diabetes—will lead a September 15th panel presenting new research about hydration and childhood obesity with the International Chair on Cardio-metabolic Risk (ICCR). On September 16th, Danish actress Connie Nielsen—best known for her role in the film Gladiator opposite Russell Crowe—will discuss her work on sustainable sanitation solutions with the Human Needs Project in the dense, informal settlements of Nairobi, Kenya.

In all, close to 100 presentations will be on offer, exploring five strands: innovations in water education; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); technology and water education; water education in corporate sustainability; and priority water topics. Presenters come from more than 20 countries and represent international organizations like UNESCO and UN Habitat, multinational corporations including Intel, Microsoft, Google, Nestlé Waters and Abbott, government agencies such as USAID, NOAA and NASA, and primary and secondary schools as well as colleges and universities both in the United States and abroad. The Project WET Foundation will also unveil its new Project WET Curriculum & Activity Guide, Generation 2.0 and accompanying teacher portal as well as its new web experience for children, DiscoverWater.org.

Evening receptions will recognize a new partnership between the National Park Service and the Project WET Foundation, the artistic achievement and educational philosophy of the impressive "One World, One Water" sculpture currently on view in Bozeman and the contributions of conference signature sponsors Nestlé Waters, UN Habitat and Abbott.

More information about Sustaining the Blue Planet: Global Water Education Conference, including a link to the full agenda, can be found at www.projectwet.org/blueplanet.

About Project WET: Since 1984, the Project WET Foundation, an award-winning U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has dedicated itself to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education. Project WET is active in all 50 U.S. states and in more than 50 countries worldwide. Learn more at www.projectwet.org.

Arnold, a NASA Mission Specialist and Educator Astronaut, has lived, worked and taught all over the world—even under the oceans and in space. A trained aquanaut as well as astronaut, in 2007 Arnold served on a joint NASA-NOAA mission to Aquarius, the world's only undersea laboratory. In 2009, he traveled on the space shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station, completing two spacewalks and spending 12 days in space.
Joe Kitts is the Senior Education Advisor at USAID's Africa Bureau within the Office of Sustainability, Education Division. Kitts' office supports the USAID's bilateral education programs in 20 Sub-Saharan African countries. The Division's over-arching goal is to assist African countries in meeting their goals to improve access to a quality education for all primary-school-aged children.

"We are thrilled to have Joe and Ricky bringing our Board of Directors to its full capacity of seven very diverse members," Project WET President and CEO Dennis Nelson said. "They bring a wealth of amazing experience to us, and we look forward to having their expert counsel going forward."

Project WET's Board of Directors represents the 501(c)(3) organization's commitment to "water for all water users"—a core Project WET principle emphasizing that "water of sufficient quality and quantity is vital for all water users: energy producers, farmers and ranchers, fish and wildlife, manufacturers, recreationists, rural and urban dwellers." Board members come from all water user categories and multiple regions, representing not only U.S. government agencies but also corporations such as the international mining group Rio Tinto, Nestlé Waters North America, United Airlines and Intel Corporation.

The Project WET Board of Directors meets several times per year, including at least one meeting for which Board members are invited to Project WET's headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This year's Fall Board Meeting coincides with the beginning of the Sustaining the Blue Planet: Global Water Education Conference to be held September 13-16, 2011 in Bozeman. Board members will be honored at a reception, and many will also be active presenters and participants in the four-day event.

About Project WET: Since 1984, the Project WET Foundation, an award-winning U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has dedicated itself to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education. Project WET is active in all 50 U.S. states and in more than 50 countries worldwide. Learn more at www.projectwet.org.

Contact: Nicole Rosenleaf Ritter, Communication Specialist, Project WET Foundation
Phone: (406) 585-4115

Washington, D.C.—The Project WET Foundation today joined more than 20 leading international water and development organizations to sign and launch the WASH Sustainability Charter. A collaboratively developed mission and set of guiding principles to advance lasting solutions in water, sanitation and hygiene education (WASH), the Charter is available to read and endorse at www.WASHCharter.org.

Globally, nearly 1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water, and more than 2.5 billion do not have access to a toilet. While much progress has been made meeting these critical global needs, ensuring that projects last long-term has been challenging. Approximately 30 percent of all hand-pumps installed in Sub-Saharan Africa have failed prematurely, according to the Netherlands-based IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre. Other studies suggest similar failure rates in various regions and across diverse WASH interventions.

In response to this challenge, leaders have developed a set of guiding principles that offer a "road map" to ensure that the impacts and value of WASH projects span generations. Implementation of the Charter's principles will help lower risk of failure and increase project success in the long-run.

"The launch of the WASH Sustainability Charter is an important step toward long-term water and sanitation service provision in the developing world," said Monica Ellis, CEO of Global Water Challenge.

The development of this Charter was initiated at a series of WASH Sustainability Forums hosted by Global Water Challenge (GWC), IRC Water and Sanitation Research Centre (IRC), Aguaconsult, Water For People and the World Bank's Water and Sanitation Program (WSP). From the collaborative work at these events, a draft Charter was created. Following several rounds of public feedback, the final document is now being launched.

"The wide range of stakeholders coming together around this Charter is a testament to the imperative of WASH sustainability," said Ned Breslin, CEO of Water For People. "Now our challenge is to bring these principles to life through lasting programs."

Other endorsers of the Charter include major international development donors, implementers, and coalitions with a global reach in over 100 countries. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the Charter builds consensus around key sustainability principles and establishes a foundation for continued learning. In order to improve sustainability on the ground, endorsers will work together towards the development of best practices through an online portal at www.sustainablewash.org and other forums.

"By working together across disciplines and organizations, we can develop lasting solutions that will truly change lives," said Harold Lockwood, director of Aguaconsult. "This Charter provides a strong foundation for continued progress and the guidance we need to increase our impact for the poor who lack the most basic of services."

The Charter will remain open for endorsement following Wednesday's launch, and all are invited to read and endorse the document at www.WASHCharter.org.

Early endorsers of the Charter include Africare, Aguaconsult, Blue Planet Network, Catholic Relief Services, CARE, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Engineers Without Borders Canada, H20 For Life, Global Water Challenge (GWC), Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF), Living Water International, Millennium Water Alliance (MWA), Triple-S - IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, Project WET Foundation, Save the Children USA, WASH Advocacy Initiative, Water 1st International, Water and Sanitation Program (WSP), Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (WASRAG), Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP), Water and Sanitation Supply Collaborative Council (WSSCC), Water For People and World Vision.

Contact:

Brian Banks
Global Water Challenge
(202) 457-0960

Contact:

Nicole Rosenleaf Ritter
Project WET Foundation
(406) 585-4115

National Park Service News Release

WASHINGTON—The National Park Service and the Project WET Foundation have partnered to feature national parks and hands-on, science-based activities for a new educational series called Discover the Waters of Our National Parks.

"Water is a major theme in national parks," said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. "It runs down mountains and through meadows, sits in high alpine lakes, laps against ocean shoreline parks and is precious in desert environments.

"In short," Jarvis said, "there's a water story to be told in most of the 394 parks in the national park system and we've joined with the Project WET Foundation to carry those stories to a worldwide audience of students and educators."

Jarvis said National Park Service interpretive park rangers and Project WET staff envision an educational package that includes videos, special workshops, seminars and online courses, children's activity booklets, educator guides, posters, a web portal and other hands-on, investigative, science-based materials that meet local, state and national curriculum standards.

The Project WET Foundation has been in existence since 1984, developing science-based educational tools for its mission to reach children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education.

Parks are classrooms that help people understand and appreciate the complexities of the natural world. Reaching children and families who may not live close enough to visit a U.S. national park will be an important part of the project. Through Project WET's global network, schools worldwide will be introduced to Discover the Waters of Our National Parks, perhaps learning for the first time about parks close to their own homes and creating a desire to visit national parks far away.

A pilot Discover the Waters of Our National Parks program with three to six national parks will be announced later this year. All of the materials for the project will be developed at the community and park level with teachers, researchers and water experts.

"The Project WET Foundation is honored to have this opportunity to partner with the National Park Service and to increase the reach of our water education materials to the millions of people who visit national parks each year," Project WET President & CEO Dennis Nelson said. "Water connects our national parks to each other and to the people of the United States through the water cycle, making national parks a perfect springboard for educating people about water."

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 394 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

About Project WET: Since 1984, the Project WET Foundation, an award-winning U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has dedicated itself to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education. Project WET is active in all 50 U.S. states and in more than 50 countries worldwide. Learn more at www.projectwet.org.

Contacts: Jeffrey Olson, 202-208-6843
Bill Jackson, bill_jackson@nps.gov 970-225-3503
Nicole Rosenleaf Ritter, 406-585-4115