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AMES -- Water Rocks!, the award-winning Iowa State University Extension and Outreach youth water education program, hosted its 20th Water Rocks! Summit in June 2026, providing educators from Iowa schools, Meskwaki Nation--Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and ISU Extension, with tools, techniques and strategies for helping the students learn about water and water quality.
"The Water Rocks! Summit provides educators with a unique opportunity to experience the Water Rocks! approach to engaging students with science- and research-based lessons about water quality, wetlands and the impacts of land management practices," said Jacqueline Comito, executive director of Water Rocks!. "By integrating art, music, movement, games and hands-on experiences throughout the learning process, Summit participants have shared what a difference this two-day workshop has made in their classrooms and on their students."
Each Summit agenda is curated with a unique collection of guest speakers, hands-on learning sessions and field experiences. Fan favorites over the years have included sessions on Iowa's water quality, aquatic macroinvertebrates, monarch butterflies, beavers, bats of Iowa, tours of prairies and wetlands, water quality monitoring and sessions integrating elements of creativity and art (e.g., haiku poetry, nature photography, mixed-media art and more).
Reflection excerpts from 2026 Water Rocks! Summit participants:
I was able to see that topics that can be considered difficult can actually be talked about, learned about and hopefully spark change in students no matter the age. Combining art, music, interactive games and technology is what makes Water Rocks! an impactful program. The future is in the hands of the students that we teach every day, and I hope that incorporating Water Rocks! will be one way I can positively impact the world we live in. - Jennifer Hardee, 4th grade teacher, Shenandoah Community School District
When reflecting on how to teach water quality subjects, I really appreciated the multidisciplinary approach that was taken during the Summit. We experienced elements of art with the cyanotype sun prints, physical movement with the migration games, scientific data collection with stream monitoring, history and geography with Iowa's changing makeup over the past 100-200 years and much more. - Gustaf Elliott, conservation education specialist, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
This workshop left me feeling hopeful that I can help students recognize the challenges that lie ahead and believe that cleaner water is possible not only for them but for future generations. - Kaitlyn Carpenter, 5th grade teacher, Aplington-Parkersburg Community School District
To learn more about Water Rocks! and the Water Rocks! Summit, visit www.waterrocks.org