Water Discussion Courses:
Our Watershed
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To view a specific water course, look to the right under "Topic Pages."
Confronting the challenges of water issues requires a new level of water wisdom from individual household users, communities, corporations and governments. We all need to become more informed and engaged water citizens so that we can intelligently discuss difficult issues and work together for the best possible water solutions. The Water Discussion Course: OurWatershed was created to facilitate this process.
Our Watershed was designed to:
- Provide basic knowledge about water and watersheds
- Raise awareness about water issues confronting watersheds and communities within them
- Provide a structure to learn about watersheds and actions an individual can take
The course is a “study circle” for small groups of people who meet to discuss an issue in depth. The course is comprised of 7 sessions, designed for informal weekly discussions that usually take place in peoples’ homes. Each week a different group member facilitates. This format encourages group members to apply their personal experience and critical thinking. Each section opens with a reflection question followed by articles, discussions, and suggestions for becoming personally involved in water, sources for reading and internet links. As members discuss, they learn and develop a sense of place and community.
There are two versions of the water discussion course:
- Our Watershed: Pacific Northwest (PNW) focuses on the waters of the states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, and the PNW Tribal Nations.
- Our Watershed: Puget Sound focuses on the waters of the Salish Sea located in the state of Washington and the related Tribal Nations.
Both versions of the course are offered at no charge to the participants. The course sessions may be read online or downloaded in a pdf format. The links to the online water discussion courses are in the right hand column titled Topic Pages.
What does it mean to be a participant in a water discussion course?
- Commit to attending 7 meetings and contribute to discussion
- Meetings are typically 1½ hours
- Read roughly 20 pages of material before each session
What does it mean to convene a course?
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Gather a group of 8 – 12 participants
- Set the meeting dates and time;
- 7 meetings, usually 1 week apart;
- 1.5 ‐ 2 hours per meeting;
(Note: Larger groups need more time to ensure everyone has an opportunity to share.)
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- Find a meeting space
- Facilitate the 1st session;
(Note: The participants will rotate the responsibility of facilitating the remaining meetings.)
Role of Course Convener
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