New York kids imagine a day without water

As part of the annual Imagine a Day Without Water observance, the New York Section of the American Water Works Association (NYSAWWA) partnered with a local, student-run organization to spark conversations about water’s essential role in our lives.

They also may have inspired the next generation of water stewards.

The sixth-graders responded with creativity and conviction. They took home iPads, learned video editing techniques, and produced a compelling video that blends storytelling with fun technological effects. “They put so much heart and soul into it,” Schuster said.

Jenny Ingrao-Aman, executive director of the New York Section, added: “If I sat down with a bunch of adults and said come up with something, never in my wildest dreams would it look like this.” And that’s the point. “Their peers their age will get it,” she said.

The collaboration is part of the New York Section’s One Water Workforce initiative, which aims to build awareness and interest in water careers — starting earlier than ever. “We usually talk about workforce development at the collegiate level,” Ingrao-Aman said. “But why not start younger? These kids get excited. They love it. The fact that you can talk about drinking the same water as dinosaurs really grabs their attention.”

CHQ Kids Care has become a natural partner in this effort — and not only because Ingrao-Aman and Schuster are sisters. Chautauqua Lake Central School, where the students attend, hosts field trips to both build public awareness and inspire an interest in water. One trip started with the Eastern Continental Divide, which separates Chautauqua Lake and Lake Erie that flow into the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, respectively. It continued to the village of Westfield’s water plant and the shores of Lake Erie, where students built their own watersheds using stones and driftwood. Students who participated are in ninth grade now, and “they still talk about it,” Schuster said. “It was the best field trip they ever went on.”

Imagine a Day Without Water was created 11 years ago by the Value of Water Campaign, of which AWWA is a founding member. The CHQ Kids Care  video was shared on social media and through NYSAWWA’s member communications, tying into broader themes of water awareness and workforce development. “This is just the first,” Ingrao-Aman said, noting that they hope to encourage similar partnerships across communities in New York. “We’ve got lots of ideas. … And this is the pilot that we can share throughout the state for people to mimic, pull from curriculum, and incorporate into lesson plans.” Upcoming projects include utility tours, student-led service projects, and a rain barrel awareness campaign.

Schuster is happy to lay the groundwork, and not only because Ingrao-Aman is her sister. “Kids have the answers to all of the problems we have today,” she said. “I just want to give them a platform to express that.”