Teacher Watershed Pen Pals Application Form

This program brings together Blue Water Area schools, students, and the community across rural and urban landscapes to build STEM skills using watersheds as out-of-school classrooms. St. Clair River Watershed Pen Pals provides teachers with sustained professional development to facilitate Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences (MWEEs) with their students.

Teacher-guided MWEEs will give students peer-to-peer collaboration across our local watersheds, empower students to create meaningful change through environmental action projects, and share their experiences through a culminating, community-wide Student Summit. Teachers and students will be paired up with another classroom that will serve as their Watershed Pen Pal. Outdoor field experiences will expose teachers and students to hands-on learning to nurture a sense of stewardship for the St. Clair River’s watersheds.

Benefits of participation:

4 days of professional development in Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences, with a $400 participation stipend, plus additional $50 for completion of 3-hr online course. Up to an additional $200 participation stipend will be available for educators who participate in 1-hr virtual monthly check in meetings.
Estimated 28-36 SCECH’s
Free backpack of watershed exploration supplies
Class-to-class communication using a modern twist on pen pals
Classroom visits and virtual check-ins from field experts
Community partner connections to augment learning
$300 mini-grant to support a classroom environmental action project
Invitation to a culminating Student Summit

Please complete the form below and click submit to apply.

Contact Melissa Kivel, Education Manager, at melissa@scriver.org with any questions or visit WatershedPenPals.org.

Your Full Name:*

First NameLast Name

Personal Phone Number:*

Email address:*

What is your preferred method of contact?*

This will be our primary way of contacting you over the summer.

Personal address (Street address, City, State, Zip): Educator stipends will be mailed to the address provided.*

What is your MDE PIC Number? Your Michigan Department of Education (MDE) Personal Identification Code (PIC) is required in order for you to receive State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs). You can find your PIC in the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS). *

Name and district of school where you teach:*

Address of your school:*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip CodeCountry

What grade level/subject do you teach (2025-26 school year)?

What is your role at your school?

We are prioritizing the following criteria in accepting teacher applicants for this program. Please check each criterion that you meet.

How comfortable are you teaching your students in the outdoors?

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Very Comfortable

Do you have any experience with problem, project, or place-based learning? Please describe.

How familiar are you with watershed education?

1 is No Familiarity, 5 is Very Familiar

In a few sentences, tell us why you want to be a part of Watershed Pen Pals.*

Are there other teachers from your school that have applied or intend to apply? Grade level teams are encouraged to apply.

Yes, we have a team.I'm not sureNo, I am the only one likely to apply from my school.

If yes, please provide their name(s):

Do you have any dietary restrictions? If so, please describe.

Anything additional you would like to add or questions you have for us:

Watershed Pen Pals is funded by the NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program and supported by St. Clair County RESA.