Nebraska
Children's Groundwater Festival
Educating 4th-
5th grade
students about groundwater and its relationship to natural resources in a
fun & interactive atmosphere.
Coordinators:
Kelly Cole
Marcia
Lee
The
Nebraska's Children Groundwater Festival is an annual one-day event for 4th-5th
grade students of Nebraska. It's a dynamic, energetic day filled with hands-on
education. Coordinated by the Central Platte Natural Resources District, the
Festival held it's 22nd annual event in 2010 at the Central Community College &
College Park in Grand Island. The event was started by The Groundwater Foundation
in 1988 and is now coordinated by the Central
Platte Natural Resources District.
The focus of the Festival is to educate youth through lively entertainment, interactive displays and tangible experiments. Presenters include groundwater and natural resources professionals representing government agencies, environmental organizations, higher education, high school leadership clubs, private business, and interested citizens.
The activities
are designed to teach children about groundwater in a hands-on, interactive
manner. Fun entertainment such as water magicians, folksingers and
musicians, storytellers & raptor shows add to the festive
atmosphere. The Children's Groundwater
Festival has become an international model that has been adapted and replicated
throughout the world. Festivals have been held in nearly 40 U.S. states, Mexico
City, several provinces in Canada, and New Delhi, India. People everywhere are
realizing the importance of educating young people about groundwater and how
groundwater connects to all other resources.
Art C
ontest
Winners
1st Place: Rebecca Ziems – Trinity
Lutheran, Lincoln NE
2nd Place: Alexis Gabel – Amherst, NE
3rd Place: Austin Pape – Trinity Lutheran, Lincoln NE
Educators: Water Cycle What is Groundwater? Groundwater Glossary Would your high school students like to present at the festival? Click here for grant info.
Want to visit with past attendees? The Groundwater Foundation has set up a page on Facebook...click here.
Don
Nelson Festival Service Award – 
This award, named for Central Community College President Don Nelson, is
given to
the individual or organization providing exceptional, long-term
service to the Festival.
The 2010
Don Nelson Festival Service Award winner is
the Pepsi Bottling Group.
Lona
and Jack Shafer Volunteer Award –
This
award, named for long-time Festival volunteer Lona and Jack Shafer, is
presented to the volunteer
who most exemplifies Lona and Jack’s dedication
to young people and groundwater education.
The
2010 winner is Ken Gnadt, Grand Island Groundwater Guardian.
Lona
& Jack Shafer's family continue to volunteer at the festival each year.
The Shafer Family is pictured here with the 2010 award winners.
FESTIVAL
ORGANIZERS
Festival
Committee: Roger Andrews, Betty
Curtis, Julie Frandsen, Liz Geberding, Ken Gnadt, Norma Janulewicz, Rita Kolbet, Sharon Samuelson, Bob Stroup
Presenters: Presenter
Request Presenter Form
Volunteers:
How You Can Help Volunteer
Form
High School Students:
Scholarship/Grant
Program Community Service Hours
Photos
from past festivals:
Whooping Crane Migration/Wetland Stopovers
"Those Darn Dams" presented by Bureau of Reclamation
presented by Platte River
Whooping Crane Trust
Festival mascot "Water Willy" greeting students as they eat in
the
lunch tent. Students enjoy personal pan pizzas from Pizza Hut.
If your school would like to attend the Nebraska Children's Groundwater Festival or
if you would like to volunteer for
the event,
contact Kelly Cole or Marcia
Lee at the Central Platte Natural Resources District (308) 385-6282.
