Clean Water Advocates Program

Clean Water Advocates is a FREE online education course that equips and empowers individuals, communities, and organizations to protect Virginia’s water quality. Wild Virginia trains individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, and locations across the Commonwealth. 

Advocates graduate with fundamental knowledge of federal and state water protection laws, regulatory processes, and basic advocacy skills that they use to influence environmental decisions and outcomes. 

Wild Virginia continually works to advance a diverse, equitable, and inclusive education program that welcomes all individuals. We embed environmental justice into the program through its curriculum, guest speakers, recruitment practices, and post-training opportunities and community partnerships. 

Through Wild Virginia’s Clean Water Advocates program, communities, and organizations can build critical advocacy skills, including:

• Understanding water-related environmental issues 
• Reviewing regulatory and technical documents
• Writing and submitting public comments
• Writing letters to the editor
• Communicating with local representatives and public officials
• Tracking public notices of agency action
• Tracking legislation and regulations
• Participating in public hearings and citizen board meetings

The 2025 class graduated in November and we were excited to have invited 30 enthusiastic participants out of 67 applicants.

Questions? Email advocates@wildvirginia.org

Meet the 2025 Class: