Project Background

Go to the Project Background, Goals and Impacts section in the Community Guide for complete details on:

• Rationale for developing the project
• LTTR Goals
• LTTR Vision Statement
• How a Summit helped guide the project development
• Project Milestones
• Project Impacts

Rationale: Why LTTR was developed

Inherent in the LTTR vision statement was the need to link technology, watershed science and youth. To do this, project staff needed to tap the expertise available in the Grand Traverse area communities.

The Coalition for Watershed Education had to first determine if this was a viable vision for their community. The partners turned to two sources: conversations with representatives of local organizations, and statistics from education research agencies. Two clear findings emerged from this background research:

1. Teens had only a basic understanding of watershed concepts and characteristics;
2. There was no process in place to organize a number of community organizations and individuals to plan joint events and activities around watershed concepts.

A Summit Is Born

Planners felt the LTTR vision could also meet a clear local need for connecting area groups with similar missions. So they embarked on planning an ISE Summit as the first step in building a rich program of watershed education opportunities.

The Summit shed light on focus areas deemed critical by the participant organizations:

• Awareness and understanding of watershed issues and the resulting increased stewardship;
• A focus on students and younger children so there could be lasting impact and sustainability;
• The importance of paying attention to the difference in youth and adult perspectives;
• The concept that watersheds cross boundaries: political jurisdictions, geographical, demographics and generations.

For the complete Summit report, click here

Support Documents

• Summary of LTTR Impacts