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
Click
here to register your class for the 2011 or 2012 Festival
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 will hold 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.
Educators:
Water Cycle What is
Groundwater? Groundwater Glossary
Would
your high school students like to present at the festival? Click
here for grant info.
VOLUNTEER FORM- We're still looking for volunteers!
Want to visit with past attendees? The Groundwater Foundation has set up a page on Facebook...click here.
2009
GROUNDWATER FESTIVAL STATS
2009
THEME: “Get
a Clue About GW” (groundwater).
Water Willy was decked out in ‘Sherlock Holmes’ attire.
Largest School: 119 students--Morton Elementary, Lexington, NE
Smallest
School: 10
students--Sutton Christian, Sutton, NE
Traveling Farthest: Southern Valley--Oxford, NE
*Schools from 25 cities from across the state
STAGESHOWS
“Mime, Masks & Magic
of Groundwater” ---Fax Gilbert
NEW
CLASSROOMS
(Click
here for descriptions)
“Are You Clueless”
presented by Loup Basin RC&D/Keep Nebraska Beautiful
“Dragonfly Pond” presented by Lincoln Public Schools (Science Focus Program)
"The Groundwater Journey" presented by Middle Republican Natural
Resources District
“The Adventures of Sherlock Hydro” presented by Jami Harper
“Those Darn Dams” presented by Bureau of Reclamation
“Thunderstorms-Where Does the Water Go?” presented by National Weather
Service, Hastings
“Water Rockets” presented by Grand Island Groundwater Guardian Team
"Water Drop Relay"
presented by Lower Loup Natural Resources District
"Wheel of Kernals" presented by Nebraska Corn Board
"Whooping Crane Migration & Wetland Stopovers" presented by Platte
River Whooping Crane Trust
There are
29 additional classrooms back by popular demand.
EXHIBIT
HALL
There
are 2 new Exhibit Hall activities and 10 returning in 2009.
“High
School Researcher” presented by Grand Island Senior High
“How Much Water Is There” presented by Rick Brown
FUNDRAISING
CAMPAIGN
PRESENTERS
& VOLUNTEERS
-In addition, over 150 volunteers including retired teachers, local business
representatives, high school students, extension club members and others help to
make the festival a success by lending their time and talents.
Festival
Art Awards
– An art contest is
sponsored each year for students attending the Festival.
Winners are announced at the Festival during one of the
winner’s classrooms.
1st Place ($100 Savings Bond & Medallion)--Diego
Martinez
2nd Place ($50 Savings Bond)—Stephanie
Matel
3rd Place ($50 Savings Bond)—William
Nabity
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 2009
Don Nelson Festival Service Award winner is
the Kaufman-Cummings Foundation.
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
2009 winner is Roger Andrews, Grand Island Groundwater Guardian.
Lona
& Jack Shafer's family continue to volunteer at the festival each year.
The Shafer Family is pictured here with award winner Roger Andrews.
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 current & past festivals
2008 "Celebration of Water"
“Water Jelly Crystals” presented by Bureau of Reclamation
20th
Anniversary
Students seen here with Commissioner Robert
Johnson,
Bureau of Rec & Equitable Bank sponsor Dave Dohmen
"Should Water Look Like Chocolate Milk?"
Whooping Crane Migration/Wetland Stopovers
"Those Darn Dams" presented by Bureau of Reclamation
presented by University of
Nebraska-Lincoln presented by Platte River
Whooping Crane Trust
"Big or Small,
Plug 'Em
All"
"Water Cycle"
"How Much Water Is There?" presented by Rick Brown
Upper Republican NRD/Imperial GWG
Team
Cargill Team
Blair
in the Exhibit Hall tent
"As the River Runs...So
Goes the Trail"
"Groundwater Model"
Festival mascot "Water Willy" greeting students as they eat in
the
Stuhr Museum of Grand
Island
Nebraska Section American Water Works Association
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.
