Wednesday, December 17, 2025

World Wetlands Day - February 2!

🌿 Celebrate World Wetlands Day

February 2 is World Wetlands Day — a perfect opportunity to help students connect what they learn about ecosystems, water, and sustainability to the world around them!

Wetlands in Colorado are a vital, yet often undervalued resource. While their extent is less than 2% of the land area, wetlands are some of Colorado's most important habitats — from cattail marshes along the South Platte River to alpine wet meadows in the Rockies. They clean our water, prevent flooding, and provide homes for frogs, birds, and beavers.

💧 Did You Know?

  • Wetlands act like natural water filters, trapping sediment and pollutants before they reach rivers.
  • A single acre of wetland can store up to one million gallons of water during floods or snowmelt.
  • Nearly 75% of Colorado's wildlife rely on wetlands at some point in their lives!

💭 Classroom Connections

  • Science Standard: 5th Grade – Organisms depend on their surroundings and each other for survival (SC.5.2.1).
  • Local Relevance: Wetlands in Colorado help store water, filter pollutants, and support native species like herons, frogs, beavers, and dragonflies.
  • Big Idea: Protecting wetlands helps create a sustainable future for both people and wildlife.
🧪 Simple Classroom or Take-Home Activities
  • Wetland in a Jar (Mini Ecosystem): Create a small model wetland using soil, sand, and water in a clear jar or container. Observe how the layers filter muddy water.
  • Colorado Wetland Wildlife Match-Up: Print photos of local wetland species — frogs, red-winged blackbirds, cattails, dragonflies, and beavers — and have students match them to their habitat roles (pollinator, filterer, builder, etc.).
  • Water Journey Mapping: Draw or map how snowmelt travels from mountains → streams → wetlands → rivers → reservoirs. Ask: What would happen if wetlands disappeared from that path?
  • Protect-the-Pond Challenge: Have students brainstorm ways to protect wetlands near their community, such as reducing pollution, conserving water, or restoring habitats.

💬 Discussion Starters

  • How do wetlands help keep our rivers and lakes clean?
  • Why do you think so many animals depend on wetlands?
  • What can we do in Colorado to protect wetlands and water for the future?

🔰Resources

🌎 Bring It Home

World Wetlands Day encourages students to think about how they can protect local wetlands — by conserving water, keeping litter out of storm drains, or visiting nearby nature areas to observe these vital ecosystems.

Every small action helps build a sustainable future — for our water, wildlife, and communities.🌿