We have a three-tiered project working with the local school district and the local water
authority, the Upper Colorado River Authority, and the San Angelo Independent School District.
We work together to design three programs.
The first program is Art Science Fusion.
That’s for second graders.
It’s a multi-visit program where they come and they look at the collection.
We choose works that sort of speak to environmental themes.
And then they do some science activities focused on those same things with the Upper Colorado
River Authority.
And then they come back to the education studio and create art projects about those themes.
The next program that we have is Camp Odyssey.
That’s for incoming fourth through eight graders.
And that’s a summer intensive program where the students take a journey around San Angelo
and the surrounding area exploring water.
Last year we explored just how water travels through our community all the way from the
Concho River to our tap when you turn it on to get your water to take your shower, all
the way through the treatment plants, things like that, through farms, the whole process
of where water goes and how it gets to us.
And then, this year we’re focusing on water through time.
So, we’re looking at how water has sort of shaped our community, why water’s important
to where we are, and why San Angelo even is where it is.
And that’s largely because of the Concho River.
And then, the last program is Aqua Squad.
And that is another summer intensive program for seventh and eighth graders.
It’s a team of ten students who become water ambassadors for the city.
And they learn all about water issues, and then they design educational devices or exhibits
to educate the public about water.
This year, we’re going to do a photography exhibit with them.
They’ll be photographing, learning about water issues, and then learning how to present
these issues to the public and designing their own exhibitions.
It’s a great example of authentic interdisciplinary learning.
It’s-- if there’s museums who-- if they’re an art museum, and they have no idea how to
connect their collection to science, even though the school district really wants them
to, our program is a really good one to look at because if you find a local issue that’s
important, and then you find an organization that’s focusing on that local issue and
kind of work with them, they’ll help you figure out how your collection can engage
the community with those issues.
It’s really fun.
And it’s been really good for all three of our institutions that have been involved.
It’s been good for the school district.
It’s been good for the museum.
And it’s been good for the UCRA.
The UCRA and the museum have had unprecedented growth in our school programs because of our
Art Science Fusion program and because of Aqua Squad and Camp Odyssey.
People are starting to take notice of our institutions.
And they want their kids to come and visit us.
So, that’s really good.�