Training & Education

The Institute supports educational initiatives for entrepreneurs, community stakeholders, teachers and students through partnerships with a variety of public and private organizations.

In 1994 the Freshwater Institute and its partners the University of Alabama's Program for Rural Services and Research and the Bernard McDonough Foundation (Parkersburg, West Virginia brought aquaculture learning laboratories to four rural high schools in Alabama and West Virginia. Through hands-on learning labs, aquaculture becomes a "whole language" teaching tool that links academic subjects with agricultural education.

To foster sustainable development of Appalachia's natural resource base, the Freshwater Institute implemented the Entrepreneurial Training and Development Program (ETDP) with funding support from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and the Appalachian Regional Commission. Through workshops organized by the ETDP, the Institute promotes sustainable economic growth through the identification and development of underused natural resources.

To promote awareness to developers, public health officials, homeowners, and other community members, the Freshwater Institute in partnership with the National Environmental Training Center for Small Communities (NETCSC) and Shepherd College, has hosted courses discussing alternative wastewater treatment options for individual residences and small communities.

The Freshwater Institute currently hosts a course covering the fundamentals of design and management of water reuse systems.  For more information, click here.