UNESCO Futures of Education Initiative:
Zero Water Day Partnership

Purpose

We are reimagining how learning can influence human and global systems through guided support and international collaboration from UNESCO's Futures of Education Initiative.

Gunnison Watershed School District students participated in the University of Glasgow's Sattellite Conference for COP26 and are scheduled to present in the UN Water Conference on March 22, 2023.

Gunnison River Basin

Headwaters of the Colorado River

The headwaters of the Gunnison River is a water tower of the world, contributing to the Colorado River Basin and providing water for the southwestern United States and Mexico. The Gunnison Watershed School District is honored to represent our region in this project.

To learn more visit Gunnison River Basin.

ZWDP 2023:

Gunnison Middle School Pollinator Garden

During the fall of 2022, GMS 7th graders took action on their local ecosystem by designing and planting a pollinator garden to increase biodiversity using water-saving strategies.

With the support of local environmental agencies, students were able to plant three different mixes of native wildflower seeds. If successful, their garden will educate and inspire Gunnison Valley residents to create their own pollinator gardens while conserving water.

Step 1:

Completing a bioinventory of the existing plants and animals in our school ecosystem with guest ecologists

Step 2:

Mapping three different garden beds, reducing competition from existing "weeds" and preparing the soil to retain more moisture

Step 3:

Planting three types of native wildflower mixes using water conserving techniques

ZWDP 2022:

Gunnison Middle School

Water Walk

Did you know that mountains are the water towers of the world? The GMS Water Walk interpretive signs will guide you through the story of water in the Gunnison Valley while highlighting several of the UNESCO Sustainable Development goals.

Our signs were designed and installed in 2022 by GMS 7th graders with the support of Gunnison High School students and local partnerships.