Water Boxes

What is a "Water Box"?

We are very excited to share our handcrafted local (Thunder Bay) white cedar Water Boxes with you! 60 students from our Native Language Classes and the Junior Water Walkers Club at Pope John Paul Senior Elementary School have constructed and stained Water Boxes to be shared with classes throughout the world. Each box contains the "Water Walker" book with a personal message from author Joanne Robertson, a journal with student designed covers, the Four Sacred Medicines (tobacco, sage, cedar and sweetgrass) with teaching cards and a wishing stone. Before placing the wishing stone, each builder rubbed their stones and put their wishes for their Water Boxes into them.

How do the Water Boxes Work?

"Water Boxes" will be sent free of charge to select Junior Water Walker classes or school groups around the Great Lakes, across North America and throughout the world who express interest in receiving one. Classes will become "Water Box Keepers"and the Water Boxes will become the inspiration and springboard for their water learning journey. Teachers are encouraged to use this website and the pages within it to help students connect, reflect, respect and protect water. The Four Sacred Medicines and accompanying teaching cards are included to provide an opportunity for students and teachers to learn from our Indigenous Peoples. They are also a gift. Please treat them with love and respect. The journal is to be used by students and/or their teacher to record their reflections and learning throughout their water journey. There is no right or wrong way to go about your water journey. Just go with the flow and do something for water.

Gifting the Water Box

Just like water, the Water Boxes are intended to keep moving. When the timing seems right, but after no more than one year, teachers and students are asked to pass along their Water Boxes to another class. The choice of who you'd like to receive the Water Box is completely up to you! When you're ready, pack up the Water Box with all of the contents. Don't forget to write your entry (entries) in the journal, include the date and your class name, school, city and country. Please add a small artifact of your choice and include what the artifact is and why it was chosen within the journal. Finally, send your Water Box on its way! Essentially, we'll all be joining together to do something for the water.

Water Box Tracking

You'll notice a number on the bottom of the Water Box you receive. Each number is unique and will help you track where your Water Box goes! Watch for updates on our Water Box Tracking page for more information.

Apply to have your Class/Club Receive a Water Box!

Does the Junior Water Walker and Water Box initiative sound like something your class or school group may be interested in? Please fill in this short form as an expression of interest and we'll be in touch soon!

Know another educator who may be interested? Feel free to pass this information along!