The Milwaukee Waters Investigation (MWI) provides teachers and students an opportunity to connect to local waterways in their community. We we’re rained out in May 2024, but in 2023 more than 325 students took part in water-science focused field experiences at beach and river locations around Milwaukee, supported by partners from industry, higher-education, and nonprofits.

The May 13, 2025 MWI event location

For 2025 we’re partnering again with the Friends of Lakeshore State Park to host all teachers and their students at Lakeshore State Park (see map below). We are also adding May 20th, 2025 as a rain date.

Lakeshore State Park is an awesome urban park right on the lake with the Summerfest Organization and Discovery World museum as its neighbors.

The Opportunity for Teachers & Students

This year, we’ll focus the field experience at Lakeshore State Park, bringing teachers and students from across Milwaukee together to engage in various water-science focused activities. This is a truely collaborative initiative that brings together community science, education, environmental, and business partners to plan for and use this event as a real-world exploration that focuses on Milwaukee’s waterways.

Cost:	None (includes a $200 stipend for participating teachers).
Date & Time:	Late January support through the May field investigation – 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Grades:	5th – 6th grade
Location:	Lakeshore State Park (a peninsula in Lake Michigan by Summerfest and Discovery World.)

Project Components

Teacher Professional Development meetings: Four 1-hour meetings – one in-person and three Zoom. in late January, March, April and late May.
3 easy pre-investigation activities for the classroom and school yard.
Free in-class presentation: MKE’s Waters and Beyond (world’s water resources) and an interactive 3D watershed model demo.
Day @ The Waters Investigation event in early May. Students tour the park as they rotate through activities with partner organizations, and then have a lakeside and city view picnic.
Post-investigation activity ideas and brief project evaluation surveys of students and teachers.

Project Benefits

Offers support for teachers and gets students out of the classroom.
Funding support includes a $200 stipend for participating teachers.
Supports WI state standards: Connects students to their waterways and community and other multi-disciplinary topics.
Encourages collaboration with community partners and businesses partners working in water and the media.
Exposes students to potential career path ideas.
Other Resources: Optional visits and presentations by project partners at your convenience.3

To Participate

For 2025 we will invite 7 schools to participate in the program. Interested?

Register Now

Schools and individual teachers are encouraged to incorporate the curriculum, resources and relationships available through the MWI Program into their spring teaching plans even if they are not participating in the May 13th event.