4-H Water Ambassadors
Since its debut in 2017, the Texas 4-H
Water Ambassadors Program has made a significant impact in growing the next
generation of water leaders. In just three years, 74 youth have participated in
this program, which provides them the opportunity to gain unique insight and
broad perspective of the water industry and careers in water. The excellence of
the Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors Program has not gone unnoticed and in May of
2019, it received a TCEQ Texas Environmental Excellence Award.
Leadership Academy Tour
Each spring, up to 30 high school youth are selected and commit a minimum one-year term of service. The program begins with an 8-day Leadership Academy – an ambitious 2,200-mile tour covering central, southwest and the Panhandle region of Texas. With more than 30 tour stops and presentations, the academy exposes ambassadors to a wide range of water issues, provides a broad perspective of water challenges faced by local communities, and offers a unique, behind-the-scenes look into the water planning process. They also learn about water law, policy, and management as well as basic hydrogeology, water treatment and water efficient technologies.
Groundwater conservation districts have
played an important role in the Leadership Academy’s statewide tour with water ambassadors
visiting several GCDs. For example, in 2019:
- Ambassadors learned about well monitoring at Central Texas GCD.
- Menard County UWCD showed ambassadors the headwaters of the San Saba River.
- Staff at High Plains UWCD shared basics of groundwater policy.
- Ambassadors explored North Plains GCD’s water conservation demonstration farm.
- Lone Star GCD demonstrated the district’s aquifer education trailer.
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Ambassadors learn about center pivot irrigation technologies at North Plains GCD’s Water Conservation Center in Dumas. -
Caroline Runge discusses the history behind the Spanish canal system in Menard during the Leadership Academy. -
Stephanie Keith (Middle Trinity GCD) leads Project WET training for 4-H Water Ambassadors at their Fall 2019 Retreat. -
Central Texas GCD’s Mitchell Sodek and Paul Babb demonstrate well monitoring equipment with 4-H Water Ambassadors during their summer leadership academy.
Service to Community
Following the Leadership Academy, program
participants commit to a minimum of 40 hours of water-related education and
service in their communities and beyond. They present at schools, 4-H clubs,
and civic events; provide educational booths at county fairs and water days;
and share their water ambassador experiences at water district board meetings
and industry conferences. Many water ambassadors collaborate with local
groundwater conservation districts to lend a hand with education and outreach
at schools and community events. For example, a high school senior from
Canadian is currently interning with Hemphill County GCD where she helps with
their website and educational events. Since 2017, water ambassadors have
reported more nearly 3,000 hours of service and have reached more than 58,000
youth and adults with water education.
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4-H Water Ambassador Bailey Halbert assists Alan Day of Brazos Valley GCD with the Pizza Ranch educational activity. -
4-H Water Ambassadors Riley Calk and Macy Downs assist Southern Ogallala Conservation and Outreach Program with youth water education. -
4-H Water Ambassadors Kendal Workman and Annika Stevens work with David Bailey of Mid-East Texas GCD to teach youth about aquifers and groundwater. -
Dirk Aaron of Clearwater UWCD meets with regional 4-H Water Ambassadors to discuss opportunities to collaborate on district education and outreach. Dirk also serves as a program mentor and on the advisory committee.
Support from GCDs
GCDs have played an integral role in
supporting the 4-H Water Ambassadors Program. In addition to offering training
and service opportunities, groundwater districts throughout the state have been
a primary source of funding for the program since its inception. Over 40 GCDs
have sponsored the program at various levels, adding up to $99,450, roughly
half of the program’s total donations! TAGD and several member GCDs serve on
the 4-H Water Ambassadors Program Advisory Committee to provide support,
feedback, and ideas on strengthening the program. In recognition of the
valuable contributions offered by TAGD’s member GCDs to the 4-H Water
Ambassadors Program, TAGD was presented the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Partnership Award for 2020.
The 4-H Water Ambassadors Program is
funded primarily by private sponsorships and donations made to the Texas 4-H
Youth Development Foundation. Without the generous support of groundwater
conservation districts and others in the water industry this effort would not
be possible. To become a sponsor, contact David Smith, Program Coordinator, at davidsmith@tamu.edu or visit http://texas4hwaterambassadors.com for more information. GCDs and other water-related
entities are encouraged to advertise the program to their stakeholders. Follow
the 4-H Water Ambassadors Program on social media or reach out to David Smith
for promotional materials for your website, district office, or newsletter.
Applications for the 2020 class of water
ambassadors are accepted beginning March 15 and closes May 15. Check out the
web site for eligibility and application information, and help spread the word
about this amazing opportunity!