The California Water Institute (CWI) is reshaping how complex water concepts are communicated in the San Joaquin Valley. Through Water Lotería, an educational adaptation of the traditional Mexican board game, CWI is turning technical water concepts into an interactive learning experience.

Inspired by the traditional game, Water Lotería uses a card-based format where participants listen for water resource terms called out by a facilitator and mark matching items on their boards. Calls are delivered through facilitated discussion that requires close attention to identify and respond to each term. As the format alternates between play and conversation, technical vocabulary is continually reinforced through repetition, encouraging active listening, participation and gradual understanding of complex water topics in an accessible setting.

As sessions unfold, participants connect these ideas to local conditions and lived experience. The format encourages open discussion to translate technical information into practical understanding, particularly in communities where groundwater conditions directly shape daily life.

Through Water Lotería, CWI continues to expand access to water education across the San Joaquin Valley. By creating space for learning, conversation, and shared understanding, CWI serves as a bridge between water science and the communities most connected to it.