Nebraska Water Leaders Academy

Water Leaders Academy - Scottsbluff, NE (July 16th and 17th, 2015) »

The Nebraska Water Leaders Academy is a one year program that educates participants about water issues and leadership development. The program prepares participants to take active, cooperative approaches to decision making about natural resource issues. The program offers two tracks--learning about Nebraska's water resources and exposure to leading edge leadership.

Academy presenters are experts in their fields and come from varied backgrounds: academics, policy makers, regulators, political leaders, natural resource districts, federal officials and more.

Watch this video to learn more about the Academy:Connie Reimers-Hild Video

Learn more about the Academy, DOWNLOAD BROCHURE HERE.

Criteria for Acceptance

• Commitment to understand Nebraska water issues.
• An interest in seeking leadership roles on public boards, commissions and water policy groups.
• Commitment to the community through proven voluntary activites
• Ability to attend all six Academy sessions.

Participant requirements

This leaders program seeks early to mid-career professionals with interests in water resources, production agriculture, business, law, fisheries and wildlife, recreation and environmental sciences. The program involves a time commitment from the participant which must be assured by the participant and his or her employer.

Class members will be required to:

• Commit to attend six 1½ days of sessions. Each will commence on Thursday morning and conclude by noon on Friday.
• Session locations will vary across the state and will include several tours of water facilities.
• Sessions will be scheduled every two months, the schedule will be set for the entire year-long program with confirmed dates and locations.
• Each participant will be required to participate in producing a team project about water related topics developed from experiences in the Academy.

What You Need to Know

GOAL:

The Water Leaders Academy will provide an opportunity for Nebraskans who demonstrate an interest in water and related natural resources to broaden their knowledge. Candidates will learn about Nebraska water laws, the political structures within Nebraska that have responsibility to manage water and related natural resources and the beneficial uses of water including domestic, agriculture, industrial, fish, wildlife and recreation.

OBJECTIVES:

• Identify men and women who have demonstrated leadership skills and who wish to enhance those skills in the water and natural resources arena.
• Encourage those persons to develop their scientific and political knowledge about water and related natural resources.
• Provide training materials and program presentations that will instill sound and accurate information about efficient, economical and beneficial uses of Nebraska's water and related natural resources.
• Provide broad based educational experiences and presentations to develop and enhance leadership and critical thinking skills.
• Encourage and assist participants to become actively involved with entities at the local, regional, state and national levels.
• Develop an ongoing program that incorporates multi-disciplinary educational and leadership programs to assist future leaders in water and natural resources management for now and the future.

What participants are saying about the Water Leaders Academy.

I like the diversity of topics and speakers. It’s not just a series of classroom lectures on water law and use, there is leadership, communication and conflict resolution skills with good interaction and class participation throughout.
- Richard Eades, water resources specialist, Lincoln

The Academy is a great opportunity to network with other professionals interested in the industry while learning invaluable information about Nebraska’s water systems.
- Kristi Boswell, director, Congressional Relations, National Farm Bureau

If you have an interest in Nebraska’s water, then you need to participate in the academy. If you want a seat at the table to set policy related to water use, you need to understand all aspects or uses of water. There are more interests than just your own. The academy can help you understand the big picture.
- Doug Saathoff, farmer, Trumbull

The Water Leaders Academy will strengthen your knowledge of water issues in Nebraska and challenge you to develop your abilities to lead Nebraska in this avenue.
- Rod Zessin, farmer, Madison

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