H2Oklahoma returns in March 2026

The City of Norman, in partnership with the Cleveland Conservation District, Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Oklahoma Water Resources Board and Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, will present the next installment of the H2Oklahoma water education initiative on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at Ruby Grant Park. The free, interactive event will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and is open to fourth grade students and teachers with registration due by Dec. 1, 2025.

First launched in 1995, the program began as a way for local schools to celebrate water history, resources and conservation. What started as an annual event has evolved into a traveling, quarterly educational program that reaches schools across the state. H2Oklahoma offers students an opportunity to explore curriculum-based, hands-on activities centered on the importance of water and environmental sustainability.

“H2Oklahoma inspires students to see the wonder in the world around them,” said Michele Loudenback, Environmental and Sustainability Manager for the Division of Environmental Resilience & Sustainability at the City of Norman. “Through hands-on, water-focused activities, they’ll connect classroom learning to nature, sparking curiosity and a lifelong sense of environmental stewardship.”

The event features lessons and activities inspired by the Project WET and Project WILD programs, both of which are aligned with Oklahoma Academic Standards. Students and teachers can expect an engaging day filled with educational games, water cycle demonstrations, macroinvertebrate modeling and outdoor observation exercises, all designed to connect learning to the natural world.

Parents of homeschool students may also register their fourth grade child to participate. Homeschool participants will be grouped with other homeschool families and are expected to stay for the full duration of the event, traveling through each activity station with their assigned group. The program is not a come-and-go event, so participants should plan to attend the full session.

The goals of the H2Oklahoma program include:
 — Offering students an enriching and innovative way to learn about water.
 — Helping teachers meet educational goals and state standards.
 — Introducing students to careers in conservation.
 — Fostering environmental awareness and responsibility.

All activities will be conducted by professionals and volunteers from partner organizations representing various conservation and education sectors.