Caring for Our Watersheds

CFW runs each school year. Classes receive a presentation introducing them to the program and local watershed concerns. Two versions of the contest exist – team-based (represents most contests) or classroom-based (working as a class). Students research their local watershed, identify their concern and a solution to that concern. Students draft a 1000-word written proposal outlining their solution. Solutions are evaluated based on innovation, environmental potential, comprehensive scope and communication, budget, practicality, and visuals. The top 10 then are then mentored by an expert to further develop their ideas and compete in a final, verbal competition where finalists have five minutes to pitch their solution to a new panel of community judges. The top prize is $1,000 awarded to the finalist/final group with a matching award for their school or club, but all finalists and their schools receive a cash prize. The key to the program is after the final competition – Nutrien provides implementation funding and students work with local partners and community experts to help turn the student’s ideas into solutions that help improve our environment. The projects implemented include ideas from both finalists and non-finalists; if the students’ solution is realistic it will be considered for implementation. Depending on the scope and cost of the project, community businesses, parents, teachers/schools, or government may provide in-kind support or additional funding to help turn students’ ideas into reality. Since 2009, CFW has helped to implement over 500 student-led environmental solutions around the world. Each region reports annually on their projects implemented and other program KPI’s for reporting purposes and to benchmark/ set goals for the following year.