This project was a partnership between the Upper Gila Watershed Alliance, the Gila Conservation Education Center and the Gila Conservation Coalition. In this project, the three organizations worked together to develop two educational "trunks" based on the natural and cultural history of the Gila River.

Each trunk contains valuable resources for students and teachers, including lesson plans, props, discussion guides and background information.

The complexity of our relationship with the Gila River offers a unique opportunity for educators. When we study the river, we study the breadth of human knowledge and culture. The Gila River Discovery Trunk Project is designed to give educators resources to help students take advantage of this opportunity, and investigate our relationships to this significant river. The goal of the project is not to merely learn about the river, but to use the river as a context within which we can learn about ourselves.

The Gila River Discovery Trunk Project is focused on increasing the awareness of the natural and cultural heritage of the Gila River and its communities of life. It is a collaborative commitment to educate a new generation of river stewards and increase environmental literacy within the area.

To find out more about the trunks, and how you can get involved, please contact the Gila Conservation Education Center at (575) 388-5265.