In a continued effort to promote water conservation among younger generations, Arlington Water Utilities, in partnership with the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD), introduced an educational program designed to teach fifth-grade students the importance of responsible water usage. The program, titled “Conservation Captains,” reached 778 students from 13 Arlington schools during the 2023-2024 academic year.
The Conservation Captains curriculum, now in its third year, is part of a collaboration between the City of Arlington’s Water Utilities Department and TRWD, which supplies Arlington with raw water. According to a report by Tinker LLC, the organization responsible for distributing the program, an impressive 97% of teachers who participated reported feeling more inspired to conserve water following the lessons. Additionally, 85% of students expressed enjoyment in taking part in the initiative.
The program’s curriculum provides students with insights into water conservation practices and educates them on how water resources are managed within the community. Lessons are delivered by classroom teachers, seamlessly integrated into existing lesson plans while aligning with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards.
A fifth-grade teacher from Wimbish World Language Academy in Arlington ISD praised the program’s structure, stating: “I was a fan of how organized the overview of the lesson was and how I was able to compare it to some TEKS that students would benefit from appropriate to the grade level. Additionally, having the students work at home using their technology was an easy way to maintain and manage their work.”
The curriculum, co-developed by TRWD and Tinker LLC, includes five locally focused lessons, classroom STEM activities, digital resources, and online assessments. It also features student contests, teacher grants, and a water conservation kit distributed to each participating student. The kit contains a variety of water-saving tools, including a shower bucket, digital shower timer, pan scraper, water flow rate bag, toilet leak detector tablets, and educational brochures about water conservation.
A student from Newman International Academy shared their enthusiasm for the program’s hands-on approach, particularly regarding the homework exercises. “I liked doing the homework exercise because I got to test stuff like my toilet and how long it takes me to shower,” the student commented.
Given the growing popularity of the Conservation Captains program, Arlington Water Utilities allocated an additional $6,000 in its 2024 fiscal year budget to support schools that wish to participate. TRWD provides matching funds to ensure the program can continue its educational outreach. Initially launched in 2022, the program will be available again during the 2024-2025 school year.
The Conservation Captains program is offered to all cities purchasing raw water from TRWD, with a total of 4,481 students in Tarrant County having participated in one or more of the lessons. Arlington Water Utilities encourages all fifth-grade teachers interested in joining the program to contact Jenni at Tinker LLC for more information at [email protected].
This initiative not only fosters environmental stewardship among students but also empowers them with practical knowledge on how to conserve water, helping to ensure the sustainability of vital water resources for future generations.
