Eastern Sierra Watershed Project
Project History and Purpose
The Eastern Sierra Watershed Project (ESWP), started by the local non-profit Eastern Sierra Institute for Collaborative Education, began as a countywide, middle school science education program organized around the historic re-watering of the Lower Owens River. Middle school science teachers throughout Inyo County met with local scientists and land managers to create a curriculum to introduce their students to watersheds, watershed monitoring, data collection, and the management of water resources. Through partnerships with the LADWP, the Bureau of Land Management, California Fish and Wildlife, the Bishop Paiute Tribe, and the Inyo County Office of Education, ESWP expanded its field study programs to the elementary school level, providing field science opportunities for grades 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8.
8th grade student at the Lower Owens River, December, 2017
The Eastern Sierra Watershed Project takes science in the outdoors to a whole new level - one that gives Owens Valley young people a chance to see the place they live as a science lab, and scientists as people they have met. ESWP activities provide students the opportunity to develop critical thinking, problem solving and reasoning skills. ESWP curriculum includes hands-on, inquiry based classroom activities to integrate the student field experiences into the classroom. Science kits are provided by ESWP for the classroom activities. Teachers receive training in the use of best practices for science instruction and in strategies to reach diverse learners.
Today the program is administered by Inyo County Office of Education (ICOE), and is able to continue to thrive and reach new generations of Owens Valley students through the generous funding by the Branson Family Foundation and BLM Hands on the Land Grants, and the efforts of many, many dedicated volunteers. The Outdoor Education and Science Specialist at ICOE continues to work with local teachers to provide classroom kits, schedule field trips, hire and train docent field science instructors, and implement all field programs.
How to Participate
If you are interested in participating as a docent, please see our Docent Information page to learn how to apply, or if you have already been accepted to the docent program, to sign up for teaching days!
If you are a teacher who will be bringing your students on a field trip, please see the Teacher Information pages to learn about pre- and post- lessons, trip schedules, bus times, or to download letters to send to parents, and other resources.
Mark your calendars! The dates for Spring 2025 are set!
Spring 2025 Program Dates.pdf