Education Programs

Children wear rubber wading boots and use nets to capture macro invertabrets in the Poudre River.

Fort Collins Utilities is committed to building a more sustainable future through education and outreach. Whether you want to learn about the Cache La Poudre Watershed, water or energy conservation, climate change resiliency, or career options in Utilities, our programs are designed to inspire learning at every age.

Youth Programs

Education Programs

Choose from a variety of programs about energy, water, wastewater and stormwater. Programs vary in length and age groups and are available upon request.

Elementary School

Journey Through a Watershed

  • Grade Level: 2-5
  • Academic Standards: 4th and 5th Grade Earth and Space Science
  • Program Length: 1 hour
  • Description: Students become water droplets and take a journey through the water cycle. With a roll of the dice, students travel to the ocean, the clouds, or even the roots of a plant. Then, an "Enviroscape" is used to show students how our watershed can be polluted and what we can do to keep it healthy.

Dr. Waterwise

  • Grade Level: 2-5
  • Academic Standards: 5th Grade Earth and Space Science
  • Program Length: 1 hour
  • Description: Students play an interactive game and discuss individual water habits to learn about water conservation behaviors. Students gain awareness of drinking water sources, how water is consumed, and why it's important to reduce use.  

Agent Energywise

  • Grade Level: 3-5
  • Academic Standards: 4th Grade Physical Science
  • Program Length: 1 hour
  • Description: Students use tools like light meters, laser thermometers and kill-a-watt meters to uncover clues to find energy even when it’s disguised in forms such as phantom power.

Watershed Field Trip

  • Grade Level: K-12
  • Academic Standards: Kindergarten Life Science, 2nd and 3rd Grade Life Science, 5th Grade Earth and Space Science, Middle School Life Science and Earth and Space Science, High School Life Science and Earth and Space Science
  • Program Length: Varies, 1-3 hours
  • Description: Students discover what makes a river healthy and why that is important. They collect aquatic macroinvertebrates, which are indicators of water quality.

Look Up and Live

  • Grade Level: K-12
  • Academic Standards: 4th Grade Physical Science, Middle School Physical Science, High School Physical Science
  • Program Length: .5 hour
  • Description: Did you know that a typical overhead power line carries 15,000 volts of electricity? Participants are encouraged to "look up and live" before doing anything around power lines with this interactive display and program.

Filtration Station

  • Grade Level: 4-8
  • Academic Standards: 5th Grade Life Science
  • Program Length: 1- 1.5 hours
  • Description: Students learn about stormwater by designing their own layered water filter and comparing it to the ability of plants and soil to remove suspended solids and other contaminants. Students learn how pollutants affect stormwater, why that is important, and what actions we can take to keep our watershed healthy.

Water Quality Testing

  • Grade Level: 3-5
  • Academic Standards: 5th Grade Earth and Space Science
  • Program Length: 45 minutes
  • Description: Students learn about water quality by observing jars of water and making a hypothesis. They test the water's odor, turbidity, and pH to determine if their hypothesis was correct. A discussion takes place about stormwater, what affects it, how we are all part of our watershed, and ways we can help keep it clean for humans and animals.

Middle School

  Watershed Field Trip
  • Grade Level: K-12
  • Academic Standards: Kindergarten Life Science, 2nd and 3rd Grade Life Science, 5th Grade Earth and Space Science, Middle School Life Science and Earth and Space Science, High School Life Science and Earth and Space Science
  • Program Length: Varies, 1-3 hours
  • Description: Students discover what makes a river healthy and why that is important. They collect aquatic macroinvertebrates, which are indicators of water quality.

Look Up and Live

  • Grade Level: K-12
  • Academic Standards: 4th Grade Physical Science, Middle School Physical Science, High School Physical Science
  • Program Length: .5 hour
  • Description: Did you know that a typical overhead power line carries 15,000 volts of electricity? Participants are encouraged to "look up and live" before doing anything around power lines with this interactive display and program.

Filtration Station

  • Grade Level: 4-8
  • Academic Standards: 5th Grade Life Science
  • Program Length: 1- 1.5 hours
  • Description: Students learn about stormwater by designing their own layered water filter and comparing it to the ability of plants and soil to remove suspended solids and other contaminants. Students learn how pollutants affect stormwater, why that is important, and what actions we can take to keep our watershed healthy.

Wind Power Lab

  • Grade Level: 6-12
  • Academic Standards: Middle School Earth and Space Science, High School Physical Science and Earth and Space Science
  • Program Length: 1- 1.5 hours
  • Description: Students work in teams to investigate the most efficient design of a wind turbine and the factors that determine its success. They use a three-foot-tall wind turbine, an energy sensor, and a variety of turbine blades and weights to design.

Hydropower Design Challenge

  • Grade Level: 6-12
  • Academic Standards: Middle School Physical Science and Earth and Space Science, High School Physical Science and Earth and Space Science
  • Program Length: 1- 1.5 hours
  • Description: Students learn about energy sources and explore the inner workings of hydropower by designing their own hydropower wheel to learn about the prominent energy sources used in Fort Collins.

Our Climate Future and You!

  • Grade Level: 6-12
  • Academic Standards: Middle School Earth and Space Science, High School Earth and Space Science
  • Program Length: 1- 1.5 hours
  • Description: Students learn about Our Climate Future, the City's comprehensive plan to address climate, energy, and waste goals. Discussions focus on the history of the plan, current City actions, and what community members can do to help achieve our goals.

High School

  Watershed Field Trip

  • Grade Level: K-12
  • Academic Standards: Kindergarten Life Science, 2nd and 3rd Grade Life Science, 5th Grade Earth and Space Science, Middle School Life Science and Earth and Space Science, High School Life Science and Earth and Space Science
  • Program Length: Varies, 1-3 hours
  • Description: Students discover what makes a river healthy and why that is important. They collect aquatic macroinvertebrates, which are indicators of water quality.

Look Up and Live

  • Grade Level: K-12
  • Academic Standards: 4th Grade Physical Science, Middle School Physical Science, High School Physical Science
  • Program Length: .5 hour
  • Description: Did you know that a typical overhead power line carries 15,000 volts of electricity? Participants are encouraged to "look up and live" before doing anything around power lines with this interactive display and program.

Wind Power Lab

  • Grade Level: 6-12
  • Academic Standards: Middle School Earth and Space Science, High School Physical Science and Earth and Space Science
  • Program Length: 1- 1.5 hours
  • Description: Students work in teams to investigate the most efficient design of a wind turbine and the factors that determine its success. They use a three-foot-tall wind turbine, an energy sensor, and a variety of turbine blades and weights to design.

Hydropower Design Challenge

  • Grade Level: 6-12
  • Academic Standards: Middle School Physical Science and Earth and Space Science, High School Physical Science and Earth and Space Science
  • Program Length: 1- 1.5 hours
  • Description: Students learn about energy sources and explore the inner workings of hydropower by designing their own hydropower wheel to learn about the prominent energy sources used in Fort Collins.

Our Climate Future and You!

  • Grade Level: 6-12
  • Academic Standards: Middle School Earth and Space Science, High School Earth and Space Science
  • Program Length: 1- 1.5 hours
  • Description: Students learn about Our Climate Future, the City's comprehensive plan to address climate, energy, and waste goals. Discussions focus on the history of the plan, current City actions, and what community members can do to help achieve our goals.

Career Fairs & Panel Discussions

  • Grade Level: Any
  • Academic Standards: N/A
  • Program Length: Varies, 1-2 hours
  • Description: Invite Utilities subject matter experts to be a part of career fairs to promote opportunities in renewable energy and green jobs.

Facility Tours

Facility tours may be scheduled for groups of five or more twice per month on selected dates for the drinking water treatment facility and the water reclamation facility. The LEED Platinum Certified Utilities administration building tours are scheduled upon request.

Available Tours

Utilities Administration Building LEED Tour

Go behind the scenes of Utilities’ Administration Building, located at 222 Laporte Avenue, and learn about the water and efficiency components, low-impact development sites, occupant wellness and comfort features, and Art in Public Places installations.

  • Ages 11+
  • Duration: 60 minutes
  • Availability: Year-round
  • Number of participants: 5-30

Contact UtilitiesEducation@fortcollins.gov to request a tour.

Water Treatment Facility Tour

Go behind the scenes of Utilities' water treatment facility and learn about the intricate processes used to treat our drinking water from expert tour guides.  

  • Ages 8+ (must be taller than 50”)
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Availability: Tours are held twice a month, year-round. The sign-up form has available dates.
  • Minimum participants per group: 10 
  • Maximum participants: 80

Contact UtilitesEducation@fortcollins.gov to request a tour.

Water Reclamation (wastewater) Facility Tour

What happens to the water that goes down the drain? Bring a group to the Drake Water Reclamation Facility to learn how Fort Collins treats wastewater to make it safe for the river and downstream communities.

  • Ages 14+ (must be taller than 50”)
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Availability: Tours are held twice a month, year-round. The sign-up form has available dates.
  • Minimum participants per group: 10
  • Maximum participants per group: 25

Contact UtilitesEducation@fortcollins.gov to request a tour.

 

Request a Tour

Check-Out Kits

Interested in offering a Utilities program on your own? The following programs can be checked out as kits.

Available Kits

Drop in a Bucket

  • Grade Level: K-12
  • Program Length: 20-30 minutes
  • Description: This short, hands-on activity illustrates the amount of saltwater and freshwater on Earth, emphasizing the small amount of fresh, unfrozen water available to living beings.

Journey of a Water Droplet

  • Grade Level: 2-4
  • Program Length: 20-30 minutes
  • Description: In this short, fun lesson, students become water droplets and take a journey through the water cycle. With a roll of the dice, students travel to the ocean, the clouds or even the roots of a plant. Students learn that water can be found everywhere by comparing their journey to that of their classmates’.

Filtration Station

  • Grade Level: 3-8
  • Program Length: 1-1.5 hours
  • Description: With this kit, participants design their own layered water filter and compare it to the ability of plants and soil to remove suspended solids and other contaminants. Students learn more about the ecosystem services provided by plants, how pollutants and nutrients affect stormwater, and how this interaction can affect the greater watershed.

Reserve a Kit

 

Adult Programs

Waterwise Garden Tours

Tours are monthly June through September.

Join us for a DIY waterwise garden tour by bike or foot! Explore native plants, pollinators, and the Xeriscape Incentive Program while discovering easy low-water landscaping tips. Accessible routes with multiple stops!

Sign up coming soon on Engage!

Presentations

Request an educator or Utilities subject matter expert to engage Homeowner’s Associations, multifamily housing groups, non-profits, clubs and other groups. Topics include conservation, efficiency, general Utilities information, history and more.

Request a Presentation

Watershed Field Trips

Program Length: Varies, 1-3 hours, for groups of 5 or more

Experience how water scientists assess all aspects of the river during a watershed field trip. From the riparian corridor to the shape of the river, to the life and chemistry within the water, participants discover what makes a river healthy and why that is important.

Watershed field trips are weather and river condition dependent. 

Reserve a Field Trip  

Facility Tours

Facility tours may be scheduled for groups of five or more twice per month on selected dates for the drinking water treatment facility and the water reclamation facility. The LEED Platinum Certified Utilities administration building tours are scheduled upon request.

Available Tours

Utilities Administration Building LEED Tour

Go behind the scenes of Utilities’ Administration Building, located at 222 Laporte Avenue, and learn about the water and efficiency components, low-impact development sites, occupant wellness and comfort features, and Art in Public Places installations.

  • Ages 11+
  • Duration: 60 minutes
  • Availability: Year-round
  • Number of participants: 5-30

Contact UtilitiesEducation@fortcollins.gov to request a tour.

Water Treatment Facility Tour

Go behind the scenes of Utilities' water treatment facility and learn about the intricate processes used to treat our drinking water from expert tour guides.  

  • Ages 8+ (must be taller than 50”)
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Availability: Tours are held twice a month, year-round. The sign-up form has available dates.
  • Minimum participants per group: 10 
  • Maximum participants: 80

Contact UtilitesEducation@fortcollins.gov to request a tour.

Water Reclamation (wastewater) Facility Tour

What happens to the water that goes down the drain? Bring a group to the Drake Water Reclamation Facility to learn how Fort Collins treats wastewater to make it safe for the river and downstream communities.

  • Ages 14+ (must be taller than 50”)
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Availability: Tours are held twice a month, year-round. The sign-up form has available dates.
  • Minimum participants per group: 10
  • Maximum participants per group: 25

Contact UtilitesEducation@fortcollins.gov to request a tour.

 

 

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UtilitiesEducation@fortcollins.gov

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