AMES, Iowa – The Harmony Brook Watershed video series produced by the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach conservation and water quality education program Water Rocks! received two 2021 Iowa Motion Picture Association awards at the organization’s 30th annual awards ceremony.
Harmony Brook Watershed is a web-based video series for early learners that delivers lessons about Iowa’s ecosystems, conservation and natural resources through a mixed format featuring animal puppets and their human counterparts.
Harmony Brook Watershed topped the web series category with the Award of Excellence. In addition, screenwriter Alex Kirstukas received the Award of Achievement in scriptwriting for the “Fox Eggs” episode. The selections were made from among some 146 nominees in 29 categories. Hannah Anderson, who directs and edits the Harmony Brook Watershed videos, was also nominated in the direction – short form category, for her work on the series.
“We are honored to have the Harmony Brook Watershed program selected for two awards this year,” said Ann Staudt, Water Rocks! director. “We conceived of the puppet theater format early in the pandemic shutdown of 2020 but have found the content has transcended that period and become a key component of our education and outreach to very young learners. Feedback from teachers, parents and young people has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are continuing to produce new episodes that help to foster understanding of water, soil, natural resource and conservation topics in our youngest citizens.”
The video series uses puppet characters that represent indigenous Iowa species, including a barn owl, red fox, green frog and swallowtail butterfly. The puppet characters interact with human actors to “discover” a situation or problem, learn more about it and find a solution through working together. Each episode includes science-based STEM lessons that can be reinforced with a free downloadable workbook.
To view these award-winning videos for entertainment or education, visit https://www.waterrocks.org/harmony-brook-watershed
About Water Rocks!
Water Rocks! is Iowa’s unique, award-winning statewide youth water education program. Through a combination of STEM and the arts, especially music, Water Rocks! educates, challenges and inspires young people toward a greater appreciation of our state’s water, soil and other natural resources. Learn more at www.waterrocks.org.
Shareable photo: Harmony Brook graphic.
