Cottonwood is the first city or town in the state of Arizona to sponsor, support and participate in a water conservation program for students in all grades of elementary and middle school.

Students will learn about various water conservation topics in their school through curriculum developed by the Verde Natural Resource Conservation District (VNRCD). The Cottonwood City Council approved the implementation of this program in July and is working closely with the VNRCD to implement the new program, which will begin in the fall.

Kindergarten through fourth grade students will learn the basics of water conservation in a program called “Cottonwood Kids Conserve,” which emphasizes the importance of conserving water, especially in Arizona. A total of 1650 students in these grades will go through the program.

Older students in fifth through eighth grade will learn about conservation through a variety of topics each year, including groundwater, invasive water species, healthy agriculture and the economic impacts of water conservation. The program includes field trips for certain grades to the Dead Horse Ranch State Park and the Montezuma Well. Kindergartners will also have the opportunity to spend several days at the Cottonwood water and reclamation plants and visit the Verde River.

“The Cottonwood City Council is pleased to collaborate with many partners who care about our children and the important topic of conservation,” said Mayor Diane Joens. “It will be a great model for other teachers and schools to use in the future.”