Learning Is Interactive
If you would like a team of Water Ways storytellers to come to your school or community hub to hold a presentation or workshop about fracking, let us know!
"The Fracking Game"
Our most popular workshop is a role-playing game which invites participants to embody the many different people who are impacted by fracking in a variety of ways. We, the facilitators of the event, play the Mayor of Rivertown and a representative of BigGasCo, a fictitious natural gas company in charge of the proposed pipeline. The participants are given envelopes with their character’s biography, objective for attending the town hall, and their character’s illustrated vignette from Water Ways.
Throughout the town hall meeting, participants are asked to speak in character about the environmental, economic and health aspects of the proposed pipeline. Because the characters are from a wide range of backgrounds, presenting cases both for and against the pipeline, the meeting can erupt into debates that reveal even more about each character and the pipeline project.
This workshop is advised for ages 14 and up. We also have a version of the game adapted for 6th grade students.
"Take Part" Workshop
In this workshop, participants work in small groups to decipher the symbolism and stories tucked into the numerous vignettes in Water Ways.
In the beginning of each presentation, Water Ways Storytellers introduce the Water Ways project, the illustration, and the basics of what natural gas and fracking is. Participants are broken into small groups and are given a section of Water Ways to work with. Together, the small group discusses what they find within the section and how it fits into the larger picture. The Storytellers then facilitate each group to report back, furthering discussion with questions and clarifications.
This workshop encourages group participation, collaboration, artistic interpretation, and public speaking. Topics discussed include fracking, resource extraction, travel, export, environmental justice, water and human health, government lobbying, environmental policy and laws, basic geology, and renewable energy.
This workshop is advised for ages 12 and up.
"Listen & Learn"
This interactive lecture-style presentation tells the intricate story of the impacts of fracking which is illustrated in detail on our mural-sized printed banner. Water Ways Storytellers guide the audience through this story. At the end of every presentation, audience members are encouraged to share ways that people can connect to local environmental advocacy projects.
This workshop encourages group participation, collaboration, artistic interpretation, and public speaking. Topics discussed include fracking, resource extraction, travel, export, environmental justice, water and human health, government lobbying, environmental policy and laws, basic geology, and renewable energy.
This presentation is advised for ages 12 and up.
Past Presentations
We have presented at these locations and more:
Ananda Integration, Lancaster, PA
Bartram’s Gardens, Philadelphia, PA
Beardfest, Hammonton, NJ
Camden County Community College, Cherry Hill, NJ
Camp White Pine, Huntingdon, PA
Chestnut Hill Academy, Philadelphia, PA
Cobbs Cook Environmental Center, Philadelphia, PA
Fight Toxic Prisons Conference, Pittsburgh, PA
Haverford College, Haverford, PA
Highland Park High School, Highland Park, NJ
Inclusion Fest, Jermyn, PA
Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA
Kimberton CSA, Kimberton, PA
New Moon Mycology Summit, Wingdale, NY
Penbryn Lake Clean Up, Berlin, NJ
People Vs. Oil & Gas Summit, Pittsburgh, PA
People’s Education Center, Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Physicians for Social Responsibility Conference, Philadelphia, PA
Physicians for Social Responsibility Conference, Pittsburgh, PA
Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Philadelphia, PA
Schuylkill Corps at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Sierra Club, Bethlehem, PA
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
The Philadelphia School, Philadelphia, PA