Welcome to
watershed citizen science

2026 Winter Speaker Series RSVP!

Backcountry Stream Corps Application!

2026 Backyard Citizen Science/Youth Programs-Volunteer Sign Up

2026 Groundwater Outings Sign Up!

SAVE Club Groundwater Outings Sign Up!

Volunteer and Internship Application

Volunteer

Volunteers make the WEN world go round. Join us in the stream or from the comfort of your own home working on Stream Team data.

Volunteer

Our mission

WEN’s mission is to foster knowledge, awareness, and appreciation of watershed health through citizen science, youth and school engagement, and outreach to our communities, in order to grow future stewards.

Our Story

Donate

We could not do what what we do without the support of donors and grantors. Your support helps WEN provide field experience through citizen science stream monitoring and education programs for students.

Donate

Backyard Citizen Science
Anyone can be a citizen scientist
and make a difference in their community by observing the natural world around them; recording information over time; and sharing that information with others.

Join WEN in our new Backyard Citizen Science Program where we provide a guided training, packet with activities, and toolkit for you and your group to independently explore, observe, document, and learn about your backyard stream, creek, or pond.

Are you interested in trying out a kit? Learn more about this program and how to get involved at our Backyard Citizen Science Page.

Hey Missoula...
THIS Thursday, join WEN at the Eagles Lounge for Matadors Burrito night!
Every burrito is a contribution to citizen science and supports our cultivation of stewards.
6-8pm (2420 South Ave. W)

Join Watershed Education Network at the Payne Family Native American room 105 next week!
On Monday evening we are excited to host our friends from the Clark Fork Coalition , Lily Haines & Gretchen Watkins are coming talk to us about conservation work being done on Grant Creek and what is ahead.
Attached is photos of our BCSC students from last summer when we did stream monitoring on Grant Creek.
March 30th , PFNAC Room 105 at 5 pm
Open to public
Link to RSVP/ Join via Zoom
https://forms.gle/SA5PmmyTX4QAAbM77

Ever wondered about water's path as it travels through tap to sewer and beyond? We are excited to host Marie as she leads us on an exploration of the urban water cycle.
Tomorrow, February 24th, at 5 pm at the Payne Native American Center 103

We are excited for our February Speaker series. Tuesday the 24th we host Marie Nelson from City of Missoula Stormwater Division. Join us at the Payne Native American Center on campus at 5pm

This Saturday come experience how citizen science maintains healthy environments. Watershed Education Network and many other friends from different organizations including Smokey Bear( ! ) will be holding engaging booths on MT's natural resources and showing the connection between our forests and water.
We will be bringing activities that can be played with the whole family. Join us at the Schreiber Gym 10-2 February 7th, day of Forester's Ball!

Eagles Lodge on South Ave TONIGHT serving burritos that goes towards keeping citizen science rolling!

Good times in the creeks with Backcountry Stream Corps last week!

These awesome high schoolers are spending a couple weeks of their summer biking and hiking in the Rattlesnake and Grant Creek watersheds, doing habitat surveys looking at instream wood and beaver habitat, single point sampling looking at stream structure, velocity, aquatic insects, water chemistry, site maps and more! 💧

#watershededucation #watersheds #outdoors

WEN's team and our @parksidecreditunion partners at the Clark Fork River with the @missoulawritingcollaborative's Words with Wings poetry camp! Tons of fun.

#watershed #watereducation #rivers

🦋July 14th is National Be Nice to Bugs Day! Created in 2021, the day aims to raise awareness about the importance of bugs in our ecosystem and encourage people to learn to respect and acknowledge their existence, rather than swatting at them out of fear.

🕷️WEN loves Bugs! Not only are they a crucial food source for our fish, but they also help us by breaking down plant litter in the streambed, and can indicate the health of our waterways! Three of our favorites to find in Montana's waterways are caddisflies, mayflies, and stoneflies. Scroll through to see some fun bugs we've found on our Stream Team and Backyard Community Science outings.

🪲How to celebrate:
- Learn about bugs
- Spread awareness about bugs in your area and how to protect them
- Visit @missoulabutterflyhouse
- Create a bug-friendly garden – plant flowers and plants that attract and provide food for bugs.
- Grab a magnifying glass and go on a bug hunt in your backyard or a nearby park.
- Watch a bug documentary (The Secret Life of Bugs, The Tiny World of Insects)

#NationalBeNiceToBugsDay

It's that time of year again for WEN to join the Words with Wings program! Words with Wings is a creative writing camp for elementary and middle schoolers, run by the Missoula Writing Collaborative.

Starting TODAY we will be offering a special day each week for students to explore, observe, connect with nature, and reflect. This inspiring experience encourages their writing, fostering a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

If you're interested in volunteering with WEN in the future, visit our website (www.montanawatershed.org) and click on our Volunteer and Internship Application.

We had a great time at Grant Creek for our Stream Team training! Volunteers learned how to catch aquatic macroinvertebrates (bugs!), take cross section profiles, do pebble counts, and more.

If you'd like to join WEN's Stream Team, be on the look out for the release of our August training date. No prior experience necessary!

Come check us out at any of these June events! 💧💚

And don't forget, Back Country Stream Corps applications are due on June 16th. If you are a high school student who likes to ride bikes and wants to learn about stream research for two weeks (and wants to earn a stipend) - apply now!

All events and important dates can be found on the calendar on our website: https://www.montanawatershed.org/events

Join us this week at our final Matadors fundraiser! Support WEN by getting some tasty burritos at the Eagle's Lodge. What's not to love? 💧💚

Thank you to everyone who donated for Missoula Gives. Your gift will allow us to continue offering excellent programming to the community, stewarding the next generation of citizen scientists and sharing the wonderful world of watersheds to all.

#missoulagives

Today is the last day of Missoula Gives!
Your gift will be doubled thanks to the generosity of our partners, @parksidecreditunion

Contribute to the stewardship of our watersheds today. You sustain this work - through donations, volunteering, and sharing about WEN in the community.

Thank you for 29 great years... looking forward to many more! 💧

#missoulagives

IT'S HERE! 👏💚

This Missoula Gives, your generous donations will help everyone get involved in collecting meaningful data to make a difference in our watersheds and our communities.

Stewardship ethics are born from personal experiences out on our creeks and rivers. By maintaining and growing our Backyard Citizen Science programs, we ensure our community takes care of water places, today and into the future. Join us in growing community-wide stewardship values.

https://www.missoulagives.org/organizations/the-watershed-education-network

#missoulagives

Three more days until Missoula Gives!

Our dedicated volunteers show up consistently to collect data, teach, and inspire the next generation of watershed stewards.

Let's continue to support their work! ⭐

#missoulagives

Hey watershed-loving folks! Missoula Gives is coming up quick. We'd love your support so we can keep giving back to our community through our programs:

💧Backyard Citizen Science
💧School & Youth
💧Backcountry Stream Corps
💧Groundwater Monitoring
💧Recreation & American Dipper Surveys

In 2024, WEN volunteers contributed 896 hours to preserve our watersheds and cultivate the next generation of watershed stewards. We've been at it since 1996 - and it's all because of you 💚

#missoulagives

Join us for our final Winter Speaker Series next Tuesday at 5pm! 🌱

Hear from our awesome Stream Team Coordinator, Stephie Novak, and the WEN interns that make our world go 'round 🌎💚

RSVP today at www.MontanaWatershed.org!

Happy Earth Day folks! 💚🍃

Today we recognize the advocacy, stewardship, and dedication of our staff, volunteers, and community to keeping our watersheds healthy. 💧

Hey watershed ed friends!

Come check out our sponsored film, Aldo's Bug Extravaganza, at the International Wildlife Film Festival. 🦋

📆 April 20, 2025
📍 The Roxy Theater
⏲ 2:00pm

Visit WildlifeFilms.org for more info!

Save the Date! 🐟💧

Our friends at Westslope Chapter Trout Unlimited are having their annual banquet and auction on May 16th. Information on ticket purchases, venue, and program schedule will be released soon!

WEN volunteers, staff, and board members: we need YOU to help us support this awesome event! 🍃

Back Country Stream Corps applications are now OPEN!

PRIORITY APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday, May 18th by midnight

Who is it for? 💧
High school age youth who are interested in working outdoors to become part of a 5-6 member crew this summer, in the middle of July 2025.

What would members be doing?💧
Biking and hiking in the Rattlesnake and Grant Creek watersheds, doing habitat surveys looking at instream wood and beaver habitat, single point sampling looking at stream structure, velocity, aquatic insects, water chemistry, site maps and more!

Members will receive a $200 stipend at the end of the two-week program, and daily lunch will be donated by local businesses in Missoula.

Want to apply? Fill out the online Application Form at www.MontanaWatershed.org. Select applicants will be interviewed before the final crew is decided.

Come by the Eagles Lodge for Matadors Burrito Night this Thursday for some tasty food that benefits your local watersheds!

Our board members and volunteers work these events, so stop by to support them too 😉

Join us for the rest of our Winter Speaker Series! 🌱💧

Come see some excellent WEN volunteers and staff share their work. RSVP now at www.MontanaWatershed.org!

Recordings will be posted on our website after the event, and we will be hosting a live stream, so there are many ways to tune in ⭐️

Happy #InternationalWatershedDay ! Today is dedicated to the importance of freshwater and advocating for its sustainable management. 💧

Did you know?
🌍 Our Stream Team is currently monitoring Rattlesnake Creek to help establish baseline data, with goals to monitor additional streams throughout the Clark Fork Watershed.

🌍 WEN will provide free guided training and take home kits to direct experiences of observing, measuring, and recording changes to local water resources and foster the next generation of watershed stewards.

We love our work, and are so happy to celebrate this awesome day with all you other watershed lovers out there ❤

Closing out a busy citizen science year...thank you to our supporters, partners, and volunteers!

Today is #GivingTuesday!! Go to www.montanawatershed.org to support your watershed this giving season!
Again a BIG thank you to Windermere Real Estate Missoula ( @wremissoula ) for matching the first $1600 donated!

What a day for Stream Team on Rattlesnake Creek- Timberlane trailhead:)

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

follow along on instagram!

WEN's citizen science programs and youth watershed education programs are generously supported by the following foundations and community sponsors:

Welcome to watershed citizen science

Volunteer

Volunteers make the WEN world go round. Join us in the stream or from the comfort of your own home working on Stream Team data.

Our mission

Donate

​

follow along on instagram!

Welcome to
watershed citizen science