The Coalition for Watershed Education emerged through work conducted under a National Science Foundation planning grant and is now firmly anchored by four community organizations known for their success in varied but intersecting domains:

• Land Information Access Association


• The Water Studies Institute at Northwestern Michigan College


• The Great Lakes Children’s Museum


• Interlochen Public Radio

With support from the NSF planning Grant, the project partners developed an extensive census of organizations involved in Informal Science Education (ISE)practice in the Grand Traverse region. From this broad spectrum of regional organizations, more than 50 experts and students were brought together at a Summit in an effort to improve the understanding of ISE in the region, stimulate collaborative relationships and explore innovative ideas.