Water Literacy Project launches hands-on activities for Canada's youth

Ottawa, October 27, 2026 — The Water Literacy Project launches free, hands-on freshwater education activities for Canada's youth.

According to public opinion research, 86% of Canadians say water literacy for young Canadians should be a high priority, and yet, more than a third (37%) of Canadians do not know where their own tapwater comes from, about half (51%) do not feel well informed about the state of freshwater in Canada, and two in three (66%) think our schools do not prepare young people well on water issues.

Enter the Water Literacy Project.

Now available for parents and teachers across the country, the Water Literacy Project puts free, fun, freshwater education activities into the hands of Canada's next generation.

The Water Literacy Project is a unique, bilingual, multi-year education program for young people, focused directly on freshwater awareness. The Project's activities connect students from kindergarten to grade 12 with the lakes and rivers in their own environments, encourage the real-world actions they can take to protect freshwater, and inspire them to consider careers in the water sector.

The Water Literacy Project is brought to life by AquaAction, in partnership with Canadian Geographic and the Canadian Museum of Nature. It is supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Climate Action and Awareness Fund, with matching funds from the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation. The Canada Water Agency and NRCAN also support this important project.

Parents and teachers can access interactive learning experiences from three partners, including AquaAction’s “Refresh Water! Action Packs,” Canadian Geographic’s “Freshwater: Lifeblood of the Land” giant floor maps, and the Canadian Museum of Nature’s “Freshwater Systems” virtual workshops. Specifically:

• AquaAction’s “ReFresh Water! Action Packs” are hands-on learning materials designed to help families and communities engage with local water issues. They include learning modules, videos, digital journals and guided activities that explore real-world water challenges. The kits and printable workbooks can be downloaded from the Water Literacy Project website.
  
• Canadian Geographic’s “Freshwater: Lifeblood of the Land” giant floor maps are large-format maps that help students from kindergarten to Grade 12 explore Canada’s freshwater systems and learn about water-related careers. Each map comes with a Teacher’s Guide and 12 curriculum-linked lesson plans, activities and additional resources. Educators can book these maps for their classrooms on the website.
• The Canadian Museum of Nature’s “Freshwater Systems” virtual workshops are live workshops led by expert museum educators. Designed for grade 7 and 8 students in all provinces and territories, these interactive sessions explore Earth’s hydrosphere and the interconnectedness of water systems. Students explore how human activities can impact water quality, and the importance of protecting clean, fresh water across Canada. The workshops can be booked now.

All the Water Literacy Project's educational resources are now available from a central resource hub, where educators, parents and students can choose their desired grade level and access the materials free of charge. Visit the Water Literacy Project website to explore all the available options.

Quotes

“Creating a sustainable future starts with engaging and empowering young Canadians. Through the Climate Action and Awareness Fund, our government is supporting the Water Literacy Project to help young people better understand the environmental challenges facing Canada and the role they can play in tackling them. By inspiring curiosity, stewardship and action, this project is helping young Canadians become leaders in protecting our water, our environment and fighting climate change.” 
—The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature

 

"Knowledge is power. And in this day and age, when water security is becoming paramount, what Canada needs is a vastly better understanding of our nation's water issues. With the Water Literacy Program, we are aiming to educate and inspire the next generation of water leaders at an early age. With that passion, and with future training, these young people can help Canada achieve our water security ambitions going forward." 
— Marie-Paule Jeansonne, Executive Director, de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation

 

“Despite our reputation for freshwater abundance, Canada faces growing water security challenges, and public opinion research shows 51% of Canadians still lack a basic understanding of water issues. Closing that knowledge gap can help strengthen Canada’s water awareness, inspire impactful actions and support future careers in the water sector.”
—Soula Chronopoulos, President, AquaAction

 

“Canada is a water nation. We have a shared responsibility to care for and protect the waters that sustain all life here and on earth. Canadian Geographic’s network of educators and explorers are instrumental to equip youth with knowledge and understanding of freshwater in Canada. We are proud to be inspiring our future water leaders.”
— Meredith Brown, Director of Water and Land Relations, Canadian Geographic

 

“One of the Canadian Museum of Nature’s goals is to help build environmental literacy and stewardship across diverse audiences and communities, including youth. Our virtual nature-themed workshops have reached thousands of students across Canada, and we are pleased to launch a new workshop on freshwater ecosystems as part of the Water Literacy Project. We hope it will serve to inspire a new generation of environmental stewards about the importance of water—one of our most precious natural resources.”
— Danika Goosney, President and CEO, Canadian Museum of Nature

 

About The Water Literacy Project

The Water Literacy Project is a national, bilingual, multi-year education and awareness program that helps teachers and parents build an understanding of freshwater in their learners, one that connects them with their own water, the real-world actions they can take, and future careers in the water sector. The project is brought to life by AquaAction, in partnership with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the Canadian Museum of Nature. It is supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Climate Action and Awareness Fund, de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation, Canada Water Agency and NRCAN. For more information: https://thewaterliteracyproject.org/en/home

About AquaAction

At AquaAction, we develop leaders to protect and restore our most vital resource: freshwater. We empower people, from young innovators to community advocates, to protect and restore freshwater through innovation, advocacy, and conservation. By supporting entrepreneurship, advancing education and awareness, and driving policy change, we help communities build resilience and ensure access to clean water for generations to come. Our mission is simple yet profound: a generation of leaders safeguarding freshwater for the health of people and the planet  https://aquaaction.org/en/

About Canadian Geographic

Canadian Geographic is Canada’s #1 paid magazine, reaching 4.6 million people each month. Through Canadian Geographic Education, the organization has also built one of the country’s largest educational networks, connecting with more than 28,000 teachers and educators in every province and territory. Approaching its 100th anniversary in 2029–2030, Canadian Geographic and its charitable home, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, were founded in 1929 with a clear mission: to “make Canada better known to Canadians and to the world.” The organization continues to fulfill this mission through the publication of the magazine, and through excellence in its educational programming that is dedicated to deepening understanding of the country’s human and physical geography. Its motto, Ducit Amor Patriae — “Love of Country leads me” — reflects a guiding ideal that resonates strongly with the challenges and opportunities Canadians face today. For more information: https://cangeoeducation.ca/en/maps/freshwater-lifeblood-of-the-land/  

About Canadian Museum of Nature

The Canadian Museum of Nature is Canada’s national museum of natural history and natural sciences. The museum advances the understanding and appreciation of nature through evidence, knowledge, engagement and a sense of wonder. It achieves this through scientific research, a 15-million-specimen collection, education programs and school-workshops, world-class exhibitions, and a dynamic web site, nature.ca.  

Media Contacts

AquaAction:
Bridget Wayland
Director of Communications and Media Relations
Bridget.wayland@aquaaction.org

Canadian Geographic:
Rosemary Thompson
Senior Vice President, External
rthompson@rcgs.org

Canadian Museum of Nature:
Dan Smythe
Head, Media Relations
dsmythe@nature.ca