School Programs

For questions about programs for schools in OMWD’s service area, call 760-753-6466 or email us.

Annual Fourth Grade Poster Contest

Each year, OMWD coordinates with all fourth grade elementary school classes in our service area for the contest. The purpose of the contest is to raise awareness among our future community leaders about water as a precious, limited resource and the need to use it wisely.

Congratulations to our 2025 calendar contest winners! Their winning drawings are featured in the 2026 “Love Water, Save Water” calendar that will be available soon. Please call 760-753-6466 or email us to request a copy.

Want a chance to be featured in our next calendar? Email us for an entry form, or have your teacher schedule a classroom presentation. The top three winners and their teachers will receive special prizes! In addition to the calendar, winning posters are used in publications and on social media! Contest deadline is April 10, 2026.

Annual High School Video Contest

High school students are invited to create a fun and informative video, one minute or less, highlighting the ways special districts like OMWD make a difference in local communities. Have fun learning about special districts and expressing your creativity for a chance to win up to $2,000! Second and third place receive $1,000 and $500 respectively. Additionally, the teacher of each winning student will earn $500.

OMWD is a special district that provides water, wastewater services, recycled water, hydroelectricity, and recreational opportunities. OMWD asks that students submit footage shot within San Diego County, which reflects the efforts involved to ensure a safe and reliable supply of water or the importance and value of water to communities every day.

Video entries are scored on creativity and originality, entertainment value, accuracy and value of the information presented, and production quality.

Learn more about special districts and California Special Districts Association’s San Diego Chapter’s contest. If you have questions, email us or give us a call at 760-753-6466. The contest deadline is June 30, 2026. 

Splash Science Lab—The field trip that comes to you!
OMWD sponsors visits by the San Diego County Office of Education’s Splash Science Laboratory in its service area each school year. This award-winning program is popular with both students and teachers. The program allows children to experience firsthand many of our local water issues such as groundwater pollution, pond ecology, water quality, weather and climate, soil types and percolation, and microbiology. It is a mobile field trip brought right to your school.  

Speaking Engagements & Public Appearances
OMWD employees provide outreach services throughout the year, including custom classroom presentations for elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as staffing informational booths at community events upon request. Past topics include California’s water supplies, ways to save water and money, and protecting our waterways from pollution.

OMWD’s Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve
Our Reserve’s webpage is updated with ongoing free events including eco-centric concerts, docent-led walks and hikes, classroom ranger visits, and field trip opportunities.

Regional School Programs & Educational Resources

• Visit San Diego County Water Authority’s educational offerings, including free school assemblies, science fair awards, a patch program for groups such as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, a digital workbook for elementary students, workforce development, and free materials. They also offer free online videos to learn about our local water supply, how clean tap water is produced, water conservation, and more .
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s student and teacher resource page includes curriculum, free maps and tools, activities for all ages, and more. 
• Free teaching materials are available from California Department of Water Resources.
• US Environmental Protection Agency’s  offers tools for educators.
• Discover Water – Interactive site
• WaterSense Kids – Let’s Learn About Water
• Project WET