Core Course FAQ

Do I need to have land to be successful in the course?

No, you do not need land access to complete the course, though, depending on your goals, you may want to have permission to work on a small plot, either on your own property or that of a friend or neighbor's. There are activities that require you to make models and practice some land applications but these can be done at any scale and are not required for success in the course. A front yard or backyard would suffice for these. If you do not have any access to land including a yard, we recommend connecting with members in your local community or your city Parks and Recreation department to find a place where you can do some of the exercises like building a rain garden, for example. Part of the course teaches you how to make connections like this in your community and build mutually beneficial relationships.

How long does the Core Course take to complete?

The Live Core Course takes 6 months to complete. During the first 5 months, new modules are released every other week. This allows for a week in between modules to digest the material, attend the Module Mentoring sessions, watch additional videos, and to work on the actions for each module. During the last month of the course, students will have the chance to complete any remaining workbook actions required for certification. The Self-Paced version of the Core Course can be completed at your own pace over a 12 month period. It is possible to finish the Self-Paced Core Course in as little as one month, but we recommend you give yourself 3-12 months to complete the course, depending on how quickly you like to absorb information.

What is the weekly time commitment for this course?

The weekly time commitment of this course ranges in each module from 2 hours to 15 hours depending on the actions required within the module. Some of the later modules will require even more time to complete, sometimes reaching 20+ hours depending on how you choose to complete the action.

Are there any prerequisites? What background knowledge do I need to know?

There are no prerequisites to take our current course offerings. You just need to come to the course eager to learn and ready to put in the work.

What is the difference between the Self-Paced and Live?

1) The Self-Paced Core Course provides students with access to all of the course content on our course platform, but does not include the workbook, Module Mentoring, additional support, or a direct path to certification. Certification can be achieved by those who take the Self-Paced Core Course, but it requires future participation in the Live Core Course and the completion of the workbook actions. To learn more about getting certified after you’ve taken the Self-Paced Core Course please visit Trainings → The Core Course page.

2) The Live Core Course provides students with full access to all of the course content, and includes a workbook, Module Mentoring, and additional support.

Do I need to have access to equipment to complete the required activities of the course?

You do NOT need to have access to heavy equipment to complete the course requirements. If you do have access to these things and wish to work on a larger scale as you move through the workbook actions, you absolutely can. But all of the land based requirements can be done with basic hand tools on a smaller scale. Students are provided with a list of necessary basic equipment.

Will this course teach me how to run equipment?

This course offers basic instruction on the operation of equipment, but does not offer comprehensive operational instruction for all heavy machinery. Much of the real learning comes from practice and working with a mentor, we provide guidance on how to find mentorship and the acquisition of equipment.

Do you offer payment plans?

Self-Paced Core Course: We do not offer payment plans for the Self-Paced Course because students are granted full and immediate access to the entire course library.

Live Core Course: We have both one time and monthly payment options for the Live Core Course. We do not increase the price for people who choose the 6-month payment plan, because we understand that everyone has different situations and do not believe that folks who want to pay monthly over the duration of the course should be penalized for doing so.

Where do I find technical support?

If you are having trouble with your student account, please email us directly at the email address indicated in your student materials. You can also reach out to us by going to About → Contact Us and filling out the Technical/Billing Support form.

Can I get a refund for the course if I am not happy with it?

If you are unsure if the course is right for you, please select the monthly payment plan so you can pay as you go. If you are unhappy with the course after you start it, you can cancel your membership without incurring further charges, but refunds are not offered for any payment that has already occurred. It takes a tremendous amount of effort from our team to produce this course and support each student, and it is important that the effort put forth to make this training happen is valued. We highly recommend taking your enrollment seriously, and approaching the course with a high level of commitment if you choose to enter the program.

I am from a country that has a less valuable currency than the USD, so the price is out of reach for me. Do you offer scholarships or equitable pricing?

We offer a limited number of Global Equity Scholarships for each round of the course. These scholarships do not provide free access to the course, but reduce the price of the course based on an applicant’s income and country of residence. We ask applicants to share honestly about their financial situation, tell us about themselves, why they are interested in Water Stories, and how they plan to use the certificate. We ask for these details to ensure that recipients are set up for success and so that we can support as many people as possible with the funds we have available. Our scholarships are funded by generous donors, and the number of scholarships we can offer depends on what is donated to the Water Stories Scholarship Fund by benefactors.

How do I donate to the Water Stories Scholarship Fund?

If you are interested in donating to our courses specifically, our Global Equity Scholarship helps provide the course at an equitable rate to people around the world with less economic opportunity. Water Stories matches all funds donated to provide scholarships to the top applicants. Your contributions make the Global Equity Scholarship possible, so we can provide this course at equitable rates to committed candidates worldwide! Visit our page under Community → Giving Support to learn more or make a contribution.

The Live Core Course

How will I be interacting with other students?

You will interact with other students in the online community and within the live Module Mentoring sessions. You may also be presented with the opportunity to engage with other students in any workshops that may occur during the course - which would be dependent on our workshop schedule and subject to additional costs as workshops are not included in the price of the course.

What are Module Mentoring sessions?

Module Mentoring is held virtually. There are two options to choose from in order to support the different time zones we all live in. These generally take place on Monday evenings and Tuesday mornings in USA time zones. Each Module Mentoring session is focused on a specific module and the workbook items associated with it. Sessions last approximately two hours and occur bi-weekly during the course.

What if I am not able to attend Module Mentoring?

You can post your question beforehand, so you do not need to attend live to get your questions answered. Recordings of the sessions are then available directly through the course web app.

Is there a “Professional Support” level?

After completing the course you are given the opportunity to join the Alumni Membership, this is our professional level support. For a much lower monthly price ($48 per month for graduates, $98 per month for non-graduates) you gain access to monthly professional development sessions with Zach to get feedback on your specific projects and challenges. You'll also gain from the information shared in helping resolve the challenges other students face. It's a great opportunity to participate in long term mentorship with skilled and experienced practitioners. You also get access to the course and more than 50 hours of additional bonus content available only to Alumni.

General FAQ

How Can I Watch The Films, Videos, Animations, and Webinars?

You must sign-up for the free Water Stories Community platform. This platform is run through Mighty Networks. Once signed in, you can view the films, videos, and animations in the Films & Videos tab in the left hand column. Below this tab, you will find another tab titled Webinar Replays, this is where you can find webinar replays. We also have a YouTube channel called Water Stories, where we keep our film trailers, some animations, and webinar replays.

Can I screen your film?

Yes you can! The films are available through the Water Stories Community website. As long as you are signed in to the community platform (hosted by Mighty Networks), then you can stream the films anywhere with internet connection. The films are not available for download, however, so please plan accordingly with your venue and ensure sufficient internet bandwidth.

Do you have videos with subtitles in different languages?

Thanks to our wonderful Water Stories community, we have a handful of our films in several languages. If you are interested in helping us translate our videos into another language, please visit the About → Contact Us page and fill out the translation form. We look forward to hearing from you!

How do I share Water Stories content?

To share Water Stories content, you can invite your friends to join the community, and provide them a direct link to the content you’d like to share. For sharing to people who are not members of the community, whom you do not wish to invite to join, you can also easily share any of the content we have on our YouTube channel by sharing the link.

I would like to invite someone from Water Stories to speak at my event or conference, how do I initiate the conversation?

To reach out to us about participating in an event or conference, please visit the About → Contact Us page and fill out the Booking/ Media Request form.

I need help with my project but don’t have the funds to pay someone, what can I do?

We highly recommend taking our Self-paced Core Course, so that you can help yourself! You can also join our community, and post a call for assistance in our Opportunities space. Anyone who may be able to offer you assistance at a discount or for free could then respond to your post.

I’d like to make a single donation to Water Stories specifically for films, animations, webinars and free community content. How do I do that?

Thank you so much for wanting to support us! You can make a single donation through the Giving Support page under the community tab above. You will be able to choose a single or recurring donation, set your own amount, and pay all in one place.

How do I become an annual Water Stories Benefactor?

Thank you so much for wanting to support us! You can set up a recurring monthly donation through the Giving Support page under the community tab above. You will be able to choose a single or recurring donation, set your own amount, and pay all in one place. If you want to make a larger annual donation, please contact us directly to set up your donation with a team member by visiting the About → Contact Us page and filling out the Custom Donation Request.

Is membership to the community really free?

Yes, membership to the Water Stories Community is 100% free to everyone. All you have to do is visit the Community → Our Community page and follow the prompts to sign up!

Can you promote my event?

You can promote your own event through the Water Stories community by making a post in the relevant community space.

I have come across a remarkable story related to water. I think you guys should tell their story. How do I get in touch with you about that?

If you know of a story you think we should tell, please reach out to us by visiting the About → Contact Us page and filling out the Share a Story form.

How can I host one of your workshops?

To host a workshop, you must be either a Water Stories student or an Elemental Ecosystems client. Please reach out to a Water Stories team member to discuss hosting a workshop further.

How can I invite Zach Weiss on my podcast or radio show to talk about Water Stories?

To inquire about hosting Zach on your podcast or radio show, please reach out to us through our Booking/ Media Request form on the Contact Us page under the About tab above.

Can you put me in direct contact with any of the Water Heroes you’ve featured in your stories?

We are unable to put individuals in direct contact with the Water Heroes via introduction or the provision of private emails.

Do I have to be a part of the course to join the community?

You do NOT have to be enrolled in a course to join the community. The community is for everyone who cares about water and water cycle restoration!

How do I set up a call with Zach? Does Zach offer digital consultations?

Zach does not offer digital consultations. If you’d like to inquire about working with Zach on a project please visit About → Contact Us for a link to his installation company called Elemental Ecosystems.

I want to work for Water Stories, where can I apply?

We are not hiring anyone at this time. Thank you for your interest and we hope to see you in the community!