We would like to thank the teachers and students who joined us this year for a FREE in-person or virtual field trip at the District's Waterwise Community Center! During the 2021-2022 school year our education team led more than 3,200 students in activities to promote water conservation through place-based discovery. Each of our grade-specific, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) aligned lessons provides indoor and outdoor learning experiences and hands-on activities such as, a water cycle dance, building water filters, garden scavenger hunts, and more! Nothing makes us as proud as hearing teachers who have visited say, their "students are buzzing about what they learned!" We cannot wait to host more students next year! Click the link to learn how to sign up for our Field Trip Program resuming in October 2022.

Sam is our 40-year-old sulcata tortoise who lives at the Waterwise Community Center's Demonstration Garden. Sam is native to the Sahel Region on the continent of Africa, with a very similar climate to Southern California. But how is Sam a Waterwise Hero? Sam, like most desert tortoises, is adapted to live in hot and sunny climates without a lot of water. He preserves the water he drinks by only using it when needed. Sam is an example to all of us to use water wisely. Visit the District's Demonstration Garden to say hi, although sometimes Sam is hanging out in his house to keep warm.

Under sage's spell? The Allen Chickering Sage has one of the finest fragrances among the California native flora. This sage makes for the perfect flowering accent plant in perimeter garden areas, on slopes, and among mixed plantings. This is a great choice to add to your CA native and waterwise gardens for its blue-purple blooms. Check out this and other beautiful bloomers at the District's Waterwise Demonstration Garden and on our Inland Valley Garden Planner website.