The Victoria County Groundwater Conservation District, in cooperation with the University of Houston - Victoria and INVISTA Wetland Center, will provide professional development workshops to teachers to promote groundwater conservation in the summer of 2024. 

The professional development will be delivered on June 26-27, 2024, between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, at the INVISTA Victoria Plant Wetland, the Clements Ranch in Victoria County, and the University of Houston - Victoria Campus.  Transportation from the University of Houston - Victoria Campus to remote sites and lunch will be provided to participating teachers.

Participating teachers will receive instruction and participate in hands-on activities through the workshops designed to 1) increase awareness, knowledge, and technical skills related to the hydrologic cycle, water resources, risks to water resources including over-production and pollution, and 2) expand knowledge and skills that align with the related Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for the purposes of promoting water conservation.  The workshops will include significant time outdoors with a tour of the wetlands and planned water sampling activities.

Participating teachers will receive a $500.00 stipend and 14 hours of continuing education credit for completing the workshops. 

Enrollment in the project is limited to 10 science teachers of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students, high school aquatic science, and high school environmental science with students from Victoria, Calhoun, Refugio, or Jackson Counties.

As of May 23, 2024, the Victoria County Groundwater Conservation District ceased accepting application to participate in this event as registration is full.

Applications to register for the workshops will be accepted and approved on a first-come, first served basis.  Staff will reserve 4 participant slots for teachers serving students of Victoria County and 6 participant slots for teachers serving students of Refugio, Jackson, and Calhoun Counties until May 17, 2024, after which any vacant slot will be filled on the first-come, first-served basis.

For additional information, contact Tim Andruss at: 

• phone: (361) 579-6863
• email: tim.andruss@vcgcd.org