Nebraska Children's Groundwater Festival | Outdoor Virtual Learning Event

Next year's Festival will be held May 12, 2026.

Nebraska’s NRDs Engage 900 Students in Hands-On Groundwater Education 2025 Activities

The Central Platte Natural Resources District (CPNRD) hosted the annual Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival on Tuesday, welcoming nearly 900 fifth-grade students from 32 schools across 18 counties. The event was held at Central Community College and College Park in Grand Island, where students participated in hands-on activities focused on groundwater and environmental stewardship. CPNRD staff led four engaging sessions focused on grasslands, global positioning systems, geology, and water quality testing:

Preserving Grasslands & Prescribed Fire Equipment: Bill Hiatt, Range Management Specialist, taught students about the challenges facing Nebraska’s grasslands and habitats. Shell Creek students especially enjoyed this session, noting it was their favorite because they “got to try the fire hoses and get wet.”

GIS/GPS: Mapping Groundwater: Luke Zakrzewski, GIS Image Analyst, showed students how NRDs use GPS technology to track groundwater levels over time to manage water resources.

Rock & Roll: Geology and My Water: Brandi Flyr, Hydrologist, used candy bars to simulate soil samples, helping students understand how geologists take core samples and how past geological events affect today’s water supply.

Test the Waters: A Water Quality Check: David Carr, Range Management Specialist, demonstrated how to use nitrate strips and Secchi disks to assess water clarity and contamination levels.

In addition to CPNRD, five other NRDs contributed their expertise:

Little Blue NRD presented H2O Olympics, where students explored the cohesion and adhesion properties of water through fun experiments.

Lower Loup NRD challenged students to design a riverfront development plan with a $5 million budget, encouraging creative thinking about land use and water management.

Lower Platte South NRD guided students in building a watershed outdoors to observe how seasonal precipitation impacts both surface water and groundwater.

Lewis & Clark and Lower Niobrara NRDs teamed up for a build-an-aquifer activity that illustrated the effects of water withdrawal and pollution.

Upper Big Blue NRD presented Wetlands Bingo, teaching students about wetland ecosystems through interactive gameplay.

Other organizations that presented activities:

Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
Nebraska Department of Natural Resources
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Nebraska Extension
Nebraska Public Power District
U.S. Geological Survey
Nebraska State Historical Society
Nebraska Water Environment Association
Grand Island Utilities Department
Kearney Stormwater Department
Grand Island Clean Community System
CCC Environmental Sustainability Office
Grand Island Groundwater Guardian Team
Grand Island Izaak Walton League
Crane Trust
Prairie Loft Center
Raptor Conservation Alliance
Meridian Enrichment Program
Stuhr Museum
Hastings Museum
Ensign Beverage
EA Engineering
Fax Gilbert Entertainment
JEO Consulting Group
Nebraska Farm Bureau
Smart Soil
Shane’s Pump & Windmill Service

VOLUNTEERS

Students from Grand Island Senior High, Giltner High School, and Barr Middle School assisted as classroom guides and activity aides. The festival depends on more than 100 volunteers to guide school groups, assist presenters, manage registration, and serve in the lunch tent.

VOLUNTEER NEXT YEAR! Join the Central Platte NRD as we host youth at the Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival on May 12, 2026! Sign up to volunteer by calling 308-385-6282 or email Marcia Lee at lee@cpnrd.org.

EVALUATIONS

Volunteer Evaluation Form Presenter Evaluation Form

Professional water and natural resource professionals teach a range of topics related to groundwater, including aquifers, floodplains, watersheds, stream health, wildlife, ecosystems, wetlands, storm water, wastewater, groundwater for agriculture, soil health, and more. Volunteers guide students through these activities to ensure an engaging experience. The activities are held at the Central Community College (CCC) and College Park (CP) campuses in Grand Island. Activities are held in the campus classrooms and outdoors.

Schools in attendance in 2025 and counties represented:

Ansley – Custer County
Axtell – Kearney County
Burwell – Garfield County
Cambridge Homeschool – Furnas County
Cedar Hollow (2 classes) – Hall County
Centennial (2 classes) – Seward County
Dodge (3 classes) – Hall County
Doniphan Trumbull – Hall County
Elba – Howard County
Heartland – York County
Hitchcock – Hitchcock County
Humphrey St. Francis – Platte County
Lawrence – Nelson – Nuckolls County
Nebraska Christian – Merrick County
New Hope – Hall County
Newell (3 classes) – Hall County
Ord (2 classes) – Valley County
Palmer – Merrick County
Red Cloud – Webster County
Riverside – Boone County
Sandy Creek – Clay County
Sargent – Custer County
Seedling Mile – Hall County
Shell Creek (3 classes) – Platte County
Shoemaker (3 classes) – Hall County
Anthony – Platte County
Edward – Boone County
Paul (2 classes) – Howard County
Vincent – Seward County
Trinity Lutheran – Hall County
Wheeler Central – Wheeler County

Jami Harper Scholarship

The Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival and Jami Harper offer an annual $250 scholarship for students entering a water resources field. As a high school student, Jami Harper presented at the Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival. She created a class called H20Wood Squares based on the popular game show Hollywood Squares ~ her version taught students about water issues.

Due to her success in creating this class and trying to educate students about the importance of our groundwater, she placed 3rd in the Volvo for Life award, receiving $25,000 to give to any educational event she preferred. She selected to give the Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival $10,000 for a scholarship and grant program.

The scholarship program is set up to allow any Nebraska high school student who is pursuing a career in water to apply for a one-time $250.00 scholarship. The funds are held at the Grand Island Area Community Foundation. Ms. Harper’s goal is for high school students to be aware that anyone can make a difference in the world.

Scholarship Application: https://gicf.eformsolutions.com/gicf/applications

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Lee Named 2023 Educator of the Year by Project WET/Project Learning Tree
Marcia and the Central Platte NRD staff utilize Project WET curriculum in coordinating the Nebraska Children's Groundwater Festival & for classroom activities, nature clubs, outdoor classrooms & community events. Read more...

Flagship Event

The Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival, held annually in Grand Island since 1988, was the first statewide groundwater festival in the nation. Its successful model has since been replicated in 42 states, as well as in Mexico, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom.

The Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival supplements the groundwater education students receive through their school curriculum by providing an event where professionals teach hundreds of students in one day. Over 33,000 students have been educated at the Festival.

The Festival is held each May at the Central Community College and College Park in Grand Island. The festival reinforces groundwater quality, groundwater quantity and natural resources education that students receive by bringing 50 water and natural resources professionals together to teach up to 900 5th-grade students in one day. Approximately 125 volunteers from surrounding communities and businesses volunteer for the event.

Based on pre/post-test results, evaluations and a behavioral impact study, the festival has demonstrated its positive impact on children’s awareness, knowledge, and ultimately their behavior in groundwater protection. In 2019, the Festival received the local and national Izaak Walton League of America Roll Call awards for educating over 30,000 youth in 30 years.

Activities

The focus of the festival is to provide students with hands-on, active learning experiences to gain knowledge about the sources of groundwater, permeation of the soil, the scarcity of groundwater and its vulnerability to pollution. The festival uses stage show presentations, classroom activities and educational games to create student interest and awareness of groundwater issues.

2021 Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival was held virtually from April 1 - June 1.
44 teachers from 30 schools participated with approximately 1,250 students.

SOME ACTIVITIES AT THE FESTIVAL
1. A Crumpled Watershed presented by Nebraska Extension
Students will learn how to make a watershed model to understand what a watershed is and how water runs off properties into streams, rivers, lakes, and the ocean.

2. Awesome Aquifers presented by Natural Resources Conservation Service
Students will learn how to construct an aquifer model to learn about the location, size and function of the High Plains Aquifer, how it is recharged, potential effects of aquifer contaminants, and how important the aquifer is to our lives.

3. Bottle Bee Hotels presented by Central Community College
Students will create nesting habitat for solitary pollinating insects using an upcycled plastic bottle, cardboard straws, twine, and paint for decorating. Native pollinating insects and bees are beneficial to overall healthy ecosystems, and in particular native plant growth. Also, native insects including bees are beneficial to the overall diverse insect health, reducing the need to spray harmful insecticides that pollutes our groundwater.

4. Critter Cube Count presented by Izaak Walton League
Students (4 per group) will use art skills to cut/glue macroinvertebrates onto toy blocks and then roll blocks to identify macroinvertebrates that turn up. They’ll use math to determine the health of a stream and how it affects groundwater.

5. Groundwater: It’s In What You Drink presented by Ensign Beverage
Ever wonder how tea and kombucha are made? We’ll tour the brewing facility located in Hastings, NE. Students will see how groundwater is in everything we drink. Tour includes: brewing tanks, ingredients, brewing process and students will see finished products closeup.

6. H2O and the 3 Rs presented by Keep Loup Basin Beautiful
Students will learn about trash/debris and discover how proper recycling practices affect the groundwater system. They will also learn about the Ogallala Aquifer and how much trash each household produces daily.

7. How Wetlands Work presented by Ducks Unlimited
Students will participate in a demonstration of how wetlands positively impact peoples’ lives every day by preventing flooding, filtering pollutants, protecting clean drinking water, recharging groundwater and rivers; as well as the importance of wetlands as habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.

8. Rain Stick Rattles presented by Noyes Art Gallery
Students will learn groundwater facts, learn a song, make a rainstick rattle, think about recycling items to make art, how to brush their teeth using very little water.

9. Seed Bombs for Meadow Pollinators presented by The Crane Trust
Pollinator populations, like Monarch butterflies & bumblebees, are declining in North America. Humans rely on pollinators to initiate fruit production in many of the foods that we eat. One way to help save pollinators is to plant native plants to create habitat for them, even in your own backyard. We’ll use wetted clay, potting soil & native seeds to create seed bombs that can be distributed to create more flowering resources for our pollinators.

10. The Raptor Connection presented by Raptor Conservation Alliance
Students will learn how surface water and groundwater are interconnected. While surface water (ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, etc.) are obviously important for all wildlife; groundwater feeds the plants and habitats that all life depends on for sustenance and cover.

11. Water Cycle Bingo presented by Hall County 4-H
W-A-T-E-R: Students will learn the pieces that make up the water cycle from evaporation to precipitation.

Target Audience

Presenters

Experts in the fields of water and natural resources are invited to present at the festival, as well as school groups studying groundwater as part of their curriculum. Following are some of the organizations that present:

Natural Resources Conservation Service
Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts
U.S. Geological Survey
University of Nebraska
Central Community College- Grand Island, Columbus
Nebraska Extension Offices
Cargill Team Blair
City of Grand Island
Stuhr Museum
Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
Nebraska Health & Human Services
Nebraska Water Environment Association
Nebraska Section American Water Works Association
Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Nebraska Public Power District
Nebraska Well Drillers Association
Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary
The Groundwater Foundation
The Crane Trust
Raptor Conservation Alliance
Hall County 4-H
Nebraska Corn Board
Nebraska Weed Control Association
Meridian Enrichment Program
Ducks Unlimited
Grand Island Groundwater Guardian Team
Grand Island Area Clean Community System
Central District Health Department
Noyes Art Gallery
National Weather Service
Olsson Engineering
Izaak Walton League
Ensign Beverage
Keep Loup Basin Beautiful
Local high schools: Grand Island Senior High, GI Central Catholic, Doniphan-Trumbull, Hastings

Committee

The Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival Committee is comprised of the Central Platte NRD, the Grand Island Groundwater Guardian Team, Central Community College and College Park in Grand Island, Grand Island Utility Department, Bureau of Reclamation, other organizations and citizens who believe in educating youth about groundwater conservation and protection.

FESTIVAL COMMITTEE COORDINATORS

Marcia Lee, Brody Vorderstrasse, Kelly Cole - Central Platte NRD

FESTIVAL COMMITTEE

Roger Andrews- GI Groundwater Guardian Team
Rob Briseno- Central Community College
Karen Cox- Central Community College
Julie Frandsen- GI Groundwater Guardian Team
Liz Gerberding- Volunteer
Jan Tell- Retired Teacher

Funding

The Festival is supported by the following businesses and individuals. The Central Community College and College Park of Grand Island provide their facilities at no charge.

Main Sponsor ($10,000)
Central Platte Natural Resources District-2021 Virtual Event Sponsor

Awesome Aquifer Adventurer ($4,000 - $1,000)
City of Grand Island Utilities Department-2021 Virtual Event Sponsor
Fred Otradovsky -2021 Virtual Event Sponsor
Kaufmann-Cummings Foundation- 2021 Virtual Event Sponsor

Legendary Lake League ($999 - $500)
Lower Loup Natural Resources District

Babbling Brook Benefactor ($499 - $250)
Copycat Printing and Signs
Hiland Dairy Foods
CommonSpirit CHI Health-2021 Virtual Event Sponsor
Lee‘s Family Restaurant
Grand Island Rotary Club
Pepsi Bottling Group of G.I.

Supreme Springwater Supporter ($249 - $100)
CNH Industrial Foundation
Donna Wanitschke-2021 Virtual Event Sponsor
Grand Island Abstract Escrow & Title Company-2021 Virtual Event Sponsor
Kiwanis Club of Grand Island-2021 Virtual Event Sponsor
Seim Irrigation & Well Drilling-2021 Virtual Event Sponsor
Upper Loup Natural Resources District-2021 Virtual Event Sponsor
Wenzl Construction Inc-2021 Virtual Event Sponsor

Festival Friend ($99 - $35)
Roger and June Andrews-2021 Virtual Event Sponsor
Coca-Cola of Grand Island
Virginia Good
Roger and Julie Frandsen-2021 Virtual Event Sponsor
Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District-2021 Virtual Event Sponsor

Nebraska's NRDs have helped landowners plant more than 100 million trees since our inception in 1972! Central Platte NRD offers free tree seedlings from late April through May to classrooms/youth groups to help celebrate Arbor Day and Earth Day.

Species available for these celebrations include Ponderosa Pine and Colorado Blue Spruce seedlings. These native seedlings are 6”-12” tall from Halsey National Forest. Planting instructions are provided with your seedlings. Central Platte NRD staff deliver the seedlings at no charge to your school and provide an Arbor Day or Earth Day activity if requested. Call or email to reserve seedlings and/or schedule an activity.

Include the following information with your order:
* Teacher Name(s)
* Number of seedlings per classroom
* Phone
* Email
* School address

Your CPNRD Contacts: Brody Vorderstrasse- brody@cpnrd.org | (308) 395-7590 or Marcia Lee (308) 395-7551 | lee@cpnrd.org

Adventure Camp About the Environment (ACE)

ACE CAMP Brochure

Nebraska’s NRDs annually host the Adventure Camp about the Environment (ACE). ACE is open to students who have completed 6th, 7th or 8th grade and want to learn more about natural resources. The areas campers will learn about aquatics, forestry, range ecology, wildlife & soils/land use.

ACE is scheduled for June 22-25 (Sunday-Wednesday) at Camp Kaleo in Burwell, NE. Campers will experience hands-on activities with a variety of speakers and explore possible careers in natural resources. It includes adventurous activities for campers such as a zipline, tanking & tubing, a campfire and many other games!

Registration $235/camper and includes meals, lodging & activities. Central Platte NRD provides $150 reimbursement for any youth residing within the District. CPNRD ACE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

Submit scholarship application to Marcia Lee: lee@cpnrd.org | F: 308-385-6285 | Central Platte NRD, 215 Kaufman Ave, Grand Island, NE 68803

Camp Core Sessions
Forestry Get the chance to learn about forestry in North America’s largest man-made forest.
Water Jump in the Middle Loup River to discover macroinvertebrates and what goes on in our water systems.
Range What better place to learn about our range ecosystems than in Nebraska’s National Grassland.
Soils Sand, clay, silt, loam. Nebraska is full of different soils to explore!
Wildlife Campers will be able to learn about our state’s wildlife in a hands on atmosphere.

Arrival & Departure: Once the registration form is received, additional information is sent to campers. Transportation to and from camp is the parents’ responsibility. Please arrive promptly with your campers.
Education Partners
Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts, Nebraska Association of Resources Districts, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Find us on Facebook: Adventure Camp about the Environment Your CPNRD Contact: Marcia Lee at lee@cpnrd.org | 308-395-7551

Nebraska Range Camp

Range Camp is for students between the ages of 14-18. The camp’s dynamic curriculum appeals to students with a wide array of interests including, but not limited to, rangeland management, conservation, ecology, animal science, and wildlife. Students who attend this camp will be actively involved with field activities, lectures, hands-on experience, recreational leadership, & team-building activities. Central Platte NRD will reimburse qualified students in the amount of $100 after confirmation from the Society of Range Management that the students have attended the full camp. CPNRD will request a list of camp attendees from the SRM and mail the sponsorship check to the parent listed on the registration form. Students must request sponsorship prior to attending the camp by providing a copy of their registration form to Marcia Lee.

Contact Marcia Lee at (308) 385-6282 or lee@cpnrd.org for details on the summer camps, scholarships, or range camps.

Summer Camp Scholarships

The Central Platte NRD provides $135 scholarships for middle and high school students interested in attending natural resources-related summer camps like ACE, SOAR, and Range Judging camps. These scholarships aim to help cover registration costs for approved summer camps.

The only eligibility requirement is that students must live within the Central Platte NRD (map).

ACE SCHOLARSHIP FORM

For more information on how to receive a summer camp scholarship for other camps, email Marcia lee@cpnrd.org | call (308) 385-6282

Festival & Events