We believe energy and water resource education is important. We provide grant funds to local schools, offer tours and presentations and support educational activities in our community.
Energy and water use is an important issue now and for future generations. Check out our curated collection of free activities and lessons, designed to promote discussions on energy and water efficiency and to encourage students to practice smart energy and water decision making.
Learn moreAs a part of our commitment to education, we provide about $500,000 in grant funds to the four school districts in our service area in support of water and energy curriculum and activities.
Each year thousands of students in the following school districts benefit from programs funded through our education grants.
Hands-on learning makes a difference. We currently offer the following for students who live or go to school in our service area:
Hayden Bridge Water Filtration Plant Tour: Learn how water from the McKenzie River is filtered and purified before being delivered to home and businesses throughout the community. The tour takes about an hour, not including travel time and is best suited for middle and high school students. The minimum number on a tour is ten people. To keep everyone safe during classroom tours we require a one to four adult-to-student ratio.
Leaburg Dam Tour: Students are fascinated to learn how we make electricity from falling water. This tour is a favorite field trip for many local schools. Many classrooms combine the trip with a visit to the Leaburg Fish Hatchery next door and stay for a picnic lunch in Lloyd Knox Park. The tour takes 60 - 90 minutes and is perfect for elementary and middle school classes. Leaburg Dam is about 20 miles east of Springfield, so allow plenty of travel time.
Request tourEvery fall wild Chinook salmon reach EWEB's Carmen-Smith spawning channel after a long journey from the ocean. A few hundred middle school students get the opportunity to witness the homecoming firsthand as a part of the Salmon Watch program.
During the field trip students rotate through four stations: fish biology, aquatic macroinvertebrates, water quality and riparian ecology. We are proud to support Salmon Stewards of Lane County and the McKenzie Watershed Council in bringing this educational opportunity to our community.
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After a two year break due to COVID, EWEB’s solar car challenge returned in 2022. The event challenges middle school students to use science, technology, engineering, art and math to design, build and race mini zero-emission cars.
In years past, the EWEB Greenpower program funded the annual Solar Car challenge, which includes participants from 4J, Bethel, Springfield, and McKenzie school districts. This year, funding was jointly provided by Greenpower and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Clean Fuel Credits.
Rebranded as the EWEB EV Challenge, the event allows students to explore the issues that surround solar energy as an energy source for transportation. The purpose of the project is to generate enthusiasm for science and improve students’ understanding of science concepts, particularly aerodynamics, design, transportation, renewable energy concepts, engineering, gravity, and friction. The event grant of around $20,000 provided funding for classroom materials, training, challenge day materials and other costs.
Giving back to the community is a part of what we do every day. We want to make the greater Eugene area an even better place to live.
See what's happening and join us for an upcoming event.
Find articles on the latest in energy efficiency and water conservatoin, read updates on EWEB projects and initiatives, and more.
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Mailing Address: 4200 Roosevelt Blvd., Eugene, OR 97402
Phone: 541-685-7000
Toll free: 800-841-5871
Email: eweb.answers@eweb.org
Customer service phone hours: 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Monday - Friday
