Minnesota Water Stewards Now Offered Statewide!
Minnesotans care about water in their communities. Many are looking for their next step in action for healthy, sustainable water. Through the Minnesota Water Stewards program, Freshwater empowers community members with tools to be water champions in their neighborhoods and across the state. In January of 2026, we are excited to launch a new version of the program that will allow us to support more Stewards than ever. We are pleased to expand our reach and invite all Minnesotans, throughout the state, to join the growing community of leaders working for clean water. Read below to learn how you can get involved!
Who are Minnesota Water Stewards?
- Minnesota Water Stewards are volunteer community leaders who work to protect and improve water while engaging their communities around local water issues.
- Stewards complete an online certification course that covers a variety of water-related topics in modules including basic hydrology, water governance and policy, community engagement, and landscaping for water quality. Stewards then choose at least one action step they will take from a suite of options and resources, such as chlorides, climate change, and drinking water.
- After completing the course, Stewards serve as leaders and connectors in the community.
- Since the program began in 2013, more than 500 volunteers have been certified.
- Minnesota Water Stewards is a program of Freshwater, an environmental nonprofit based in St. Paul, Minnesota.
"I am interested in becoming a water steward to share my passion for water, educate my community on the importance of water, and drive positive change in my community."
- Erin, 2024 Minnesota Water Steward
Standard Steward training is held annually. The general program calendar is as follows:
- Fall: Application available.
- December 15: Deadline to apply.
- January - April: Guided certification course runs.
- May: Online course is complete! Time to choose an action step and make a plan to achieve it.
- October: Stewards gather at the annual Confluence of Water Stewards event!
How do I become a Minnesota Water Steward volunteer?
1. Apply to the program
- Complete and submit the online application by December 15.
- Attend an information session.
- Once your application is approved, you will be registered and can take the online course starting in January.
- In alignment with our commitment to make the MWS program accessible to everyone, we are offering the program at no cost to participants.
2. Complete the online Minnesota Water Stewards Certification Course
- The Minnesota Water Stewards Certification Course takes approximately 40 hours to complete.
- The course is online and is offered annually. It begins in January and is self-paced, with monthly module releases and guidance through the end of April.
- After the general course is complete, Stewards select at least one action step to take, addressing a water issue in their community.
- All candidates must complete online quizzes for certification. An active email address and reliable internet access are required.
3. Volunteer in your community
- Educate and engage community members around local water issues. Volunteering can take many forms including tabling at events, building rain gardens or other best management practices (BMPs), performing maintenance of BMPs, serving on water organization boards, etc.
- We ask that Stewards complete 25 hours of volunteering each year.
- Report your annual volunteer activities online by December 31.
4. Celebrate!
Join us at our annual Confluence of Stewards event in October! Gather with MWS volunteers from across the years and the state to celebrate newly certified Stewards and all the work for water completed in the previous year.
5. Stay involved
Use our communication networks to receive and share volunteer opportunities. Let us know what you’re up to by submitting your hours on the reporting site. Your stories are what keep the program going, so please share them with text, photos, and videos.
Program Impact
Once certified, Minnesota Water Stewards become leaders in their communities, take action for clean water, and help others do the same. To date, Stewards have accomplished a tremendous amount through their service. They have:
- Connected with tens of thousands of people through outreach and educational events
- Installed prairie restorations, rain gardens, cisterns, permeable pavement, public art installations, shoreline and habitat restorations, and tree plantings
- Prevented millions of gallons of polluted stormwater runoff from entering our lakes, rivers, and creeks each year!
Stewards serve on citizen advisory committees and watershed boards, teach students in classroom settings, table at community events, create public art, facilitate home water efficiency audits, and more. Thank you, Stewards, for all you do!
Ready to make a difference for water?
Support Minnesota Water Stewards
To remove cost as a barrier to participation, there is no tuition fee for individuals. This means we rely on partner organizations and community support to ensure anyone throughout the state can become a Water Steward. Contributions support tuition costs, enable continuing education programming, and help Freshwater provide the most current curriculum content to MWS volunteers. Consider donating or becoming a sustaining Freshwater member to support this and other programming.