Kerlin, S., N. Marcum-Dietrich, K. Metzker, and D. Kline. 2024. Stroud Water Research Center Report #2024-002.
Abstract
The research presented in this report was conducted to formulate recommendations for the future of the National Park Service’s (NPS) watershed education programs in the National Capital Region. During the summer and fall of 2023, Stroud Water Research Center education researchers completed a mixed-methods research study. The study included an online survey of teachers and school administrators, follow-up interviews of a sample of school staff, interviews of NPS and the current cooperative partner staff, and site visits to national parks in the National Capital Region. The analysis and results of these four data sources, review of Bridging The Watershed program documents and online information, environmental and watershed education published research, and the expertise and experiences of the research team were used to formulate nine sets of recommendations for the possible future of the NPS watershed education programs. Recommendations for consideration are not presented in any order of priority but are organized with recommendations about schools first to emphasize the importance of the audience to be served by future program updates. Recommendations for consideration are organized into the following themes: Connecting future watershed program(s) to the needs of schools, establishing and strengthening partnerships with schools, updating curricula, program formats, program evaluation, professional development, communications/marketing of programs, expanding and revitalizing strategic partnerships, and considerations for structure and components of future cooperative agreement(s) and use of funding.
