Nebraska Children's Groundwater Festival | Outdoor Virtual Learning Event

Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival

The Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival is a free educational event that teaches up to 800 fifth-grade students about groundwater quality, conserving groundwater use, and other natural resources through in-depth, hands-on activities. This fun, educational event brings the topic of groundwater to life for students, providing a better understanding how important groundwater is to their daily lives.

2026 ACTIVITIES 2026 Video/Picture Highlights

DATE: Tuesday, May 12, 2026
LOCATION: Central Community College and College Park campuses, 3134 Hwy 34 in Grand Island, NE Maps

800 fifth-grade students representing 23 schools from across Nebraska gathered in Grand Island on Tuesday, May 12, for the annual Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival hosted by the Central Platte Natural Resources District (CPNRD) at Central Community College and College Park. The free educational event brought students together for a day of hands-on learning focused on Nebraska’s groundwater resources and the importance of conservation. Because most Nebraskans rely on groundwater for drinking water and agriculture, teaching students about water protection is a key focus of the Festival.

Students rotated through six in-depth learning sessions led by natural resource professionals, educators, agencies, universities, nonprofits, and volunteers from across the state. Activities explored topics including groundwater, watersheds, agriculture, wildlife, weather, conservation, water quality, recycling, and pollution prevention. Popular activities included groundwater models, stormwater pollution demonstrations, soil infiltration experiments, weather games, geology activities, and water quality testing. The Festival’s interactive format allows students to actively participate while learning how their daily actions can impact Nebraska’s water resources. The Festival was made possible through the dedication of presenters and volunteers who assisted with classroom activities, registration, lunch service, guiding school groups, and event coordination throughout the day.

“The Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival gives students the opportunity to experience science and natural resources in a fun and meaningful way,” said Marcia Lee, Information/Education Specialist for CPNRD. “The enthusiasm of our presenters and volunteers helps students understand how important groundwater is to their everyday lives and inspires them to become good stewards of our natural resources.”

Established in 1988, the Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival was the first statewide groundwater festival in the nation. Since its beginning, more than 33,000 students have attended the event. The Festival’s successful educational model has since been replicated in 42 states and several countries including Mexico, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom.

CPNRD thanks the many schools, presenters, volunteers, sponsors, and partners who helped make this year’s Festival a success.

2026 Video/Photo Highlights

CONTACT: Marcia Lee (308) 395-7551 | Brody Vorderstrasse (308) 395-7590

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

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

Your NRD Contacts
Marcia Lee
308-395-7551
lee@cpnrd.org

Brody Vorderstrasse
308-395-7590
brody@cpnrd.org

Flagship Event and Awards

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.
Festival Awards</h3>
2023: Lee Named Educator of the Year by Project WET/Project Learning Tree
Marcia Lee and the Central Platte NRD staff utilize Project WET curriculum in coordinating the Nebraska Children's Groundwater Festival and for classroom activities, nature clubs, outdoor classrooms & community events.
Read more</a>
2019: Izaak Walton League of America Roll Call Awards 
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.

Presenters and Activities

The Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival has connected over 32,000 students with water and natural resource professionals to explore the importance of groundwater conservation since 1988. Each year, up to 900 students learn directly from experts through hands-on classroom activities and an engaging stage show. 
This one-day event offers fifth-grade students an educational experience made possible by professionals who bring real-world knowledge to the classroom.
2025 Activities and Presenters</h3>
CCC Environmental Sustainability Office
Water Explorers: Journey Through Soils
Learn how water moves through soils and build a filter to clean the ‘dirty’ water.
Central Platte NRD

GIS/GPS: Mapping Groundwater
Use GPS units to see how NRDs calculate groundwater levels from year-to-year to manage water resources.</li>
Preserving Grasslands/Fire Equipment
Learn the challenges facing Nebraska’s grasslands and habitat. See equipment used for wildfire and prescribed burning.</li>
Rock & Roll: Geology and My Water 
Drill a core sample and learn how historical geological events affect the water available to us.</li>
Test the Waters: A Quality Check
Learn how to use lab equipment to test water samples for nitrate and turbidity.</li>
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City of Grand Island and City of Kearney Stormwater
Demo: Urban Stormwater Pollution
Students see how easy behaviors/practices can make a big impact on our environment to reduce pollution.
Crane Trust
Wetland Wildlife Resource Discovery
Learn how wetlands support wildlife & migratory species through an interactive resource game.
EA Engineering, Science & Technology
The Incredible Journey
Learn how water moves through the water cycle by rolling dice to create a bracelet with properties of water in soil, plants, surface water and groundwater.
Ensign Beverage, Hastings
Groundwater: It’s in What You Drink
We’ll brainstorm about what beverages are made with groundwater, including those made right here in Nebraska.
Fax Gilbert Interactive Performance 
Enjoy characters and skits for a deeper understanding of aquifers, the water cycle, groundwater and contaminants.
Grand Island Area Clean Community System
Water Cycle Bingo
Have fun learning and memorizing how the water cycle works.
Grand Island Groundwater Guardian Team
Water Rockets 
Use water and compressed air to build a water rocket and learn about Grand Island’s water system. Then launch your rocket!
Grand Island Izaak Walton League
Critter Cube Count
Role dice to ID macroinvertebrates/use math to calculate the health of a stream and how it affects groundwater.
Hastings Museum
The Incredible Journey 
Become a water molecule and move through the water cycle by collecting beads along your journey to make a bracelet. 
JEO Consulting Group
Infiltration Station 
Shoot water guns at targets to simulate rainfall. Compare runoff and infiltration based on the target’s soil/surface type.
Little Blue NRD
H2O Olympics
Compete in the Water Olympics by performing tasks that investigate properties of water: adhesion and cohesion.
Lower Loup NRD
We All Live in a Watershed
Scenario: You have $5 million to build/develop riverside land however you want. Learn how everyone affects the watershed they live in.
Lower Platte South NRD
Watershed Whirlwind
Line up to create a watershed. Demonstrate how seasonal precipitation impacts not only the watershed but also groundwater.
Meridian Enrichment Program
Hidden Household Hazzards
Use safe, effective, alternative cleaning solutions that will not harm the groundwater.
Natural Resources Conservation Service

Awesome Aquifer
Learn about the location, size, and function of the High Plains Aquifer by constructing your own model.</li>
Soil and the Water Cycle
Students see how water and soil interact with a tabletop rainfall simulation & get their hands dirty making their own soil profile cards as they learn about soil!</li>
</ul>
Nebraska Department of Environment & Energy 
Aquifers and You! How We Impact Water Quality
Build your own topographic terrarium to learn how different land formations impact rainfall, water tables & surface pollution.
Nebraska Department of Natural Resources

Building Floodplain Town
Construct a paper house for an interactive floodplain table to learn the benefits of surface water and groundwater interaction.
</li>
Dividing the Drops
Students will represent all water users in Nebraska and divide needed water uses.</li>
</ul>
Nebraska Extension

Green/Gray Relay
What is the difference between green and gray infrastructure? Students participate in a green vs gray infrastructure relay to see.
</li>
There’s No New Water
Discover how many people rely on groundwater and why it's crucial to conserve this vital resource.</li>
</ul>
Nebraska Extension - Hall County 4-H
Travel the Water Cycle
Learn the parts of the water cycle - from evaporation to precipitation with an interactive vocabulary-matching game.
Nebraska Farm Bureau
Our World: Soil & Water
Create a fractional model of Earth’s water and land resources and best practices that farmers use to protect these resources.
Nebraska Public Power District
Renewable Grid Simulator with VR Headsets
Discuss how vital water is to process electricity, how chemists keep it clean, and the connection with invasive species.
Nebraska State Historical Society
Windmills and Water in the 1800s
Learn how homesteaders and farmers used windmills to pull up water & make your own windmill to take home.
Nebraska Water Environment Association
Wastewater Jeopardy
Form teams to play an interactive water version of the game show Jeopardy with questions about water and wastewater.
NRDs - Lewis & Clark/Lower Niobrara 
Awesome Aquifer
Build an aquifer to learn how water withdrawal and pollution affect aquifers.
Prairie Loft Center
Water Travel Scavenger Hunt
Discover the path rain takes after it falls from the clouds.
Raptor Conservation Alliance
The Raptor Connection
See live raptors and learn why all wildlife depends on groundwater for survival.
Shane’s Pump & Windmill Service
Well, Well: How Deep Does It Go? 
See firsthand how to measure water depth and well depth from College Park’s irrigation well.
Smart Soil
The Compost Connection
Students handle compost and learn how it helps with soil structure, better water retention, and runoff control.
Stuhr Museum 
Exploring Nebraska’s Wetlands
Students will handle wetland plants from Stuhr Museum’s wetlands and design their own wetland.
United States Geological Survey
Awesome Aquifers
Learn how surface and groundwater interact and how external factors, i.e. pumping and contamination affect them.
Upper Big Blue NRD
Wetlands Bingo 
Watch a wetlands music video, discuss how wetlands filter groundwater, and play Wetland Bingo.

Jami Harper Festival Scholarship

Congratulations to Emily Reimers for receiving the Jami Harper - Nebraska Children's Groundwater Festival Scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year!
The Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival, in partnership with Jami Harper, offers an annual $250 scholarship for high school students planning to pursue a career in water resources.
As a high school student, Jami Harper developed and presented “H2Owood Squares” at the Festival—a creative class based on the game show Hollywood Squares that educated students about water issues. Her innovative approach and passion for groundwater education earned her 3rd place in the national Volvo for Life awards, which included a $25,000 prize to donate to the cause of her choice.
Jami chose to donate $10,000 to the Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival to establish a scholarship and grant program. Her goal is to inspire other high school students to realize that anyone, at any age, can make a positive impact on the world.
The $250 scholarship is available to any Nebraska high school student pursuing a water-related field of study. It is a one-time award managed by the Grand Island Area Community Foundation.
Apply for the Scholarship:https://gicf.eformsolutions.com/gicf/applications</a>

Sponsors and Donations

Sponsors and Donations</h2>
The Groundwater Festival is made possible through the generous support of donations from the following sponsors. We extend special appreciation to Central Community College and College Park for providing their facilities at no cost. Their partnership reflects the strong community commitment to advancing groundwater education. If you see these sponsors, please join us in thanking them!
Main Sponsor ($10,000)
Central Platte Natural Resources District
Awesome Aquifer Adventurer ($1,000 - $5,000)
Fred and Gloria Otradovsky
Hunter Industries/Senninger
Legendary Lake League ($400 - $999)
Lower Loup Natural Resources District
Nebraskaland Distributors LLC
Babbling Brook Benefactor ($250 - $399)
CNH Industrial Foundation
Copycat Printing and Signs
Coca-Cola of Grand Island
Grand Island Area Clean Community System
Grand Island Rotary
Hansen Well Service & Drilling
Hy-Vee
JEO Consulting Group Inc
Pepsi Beverages Company – Grand Island
Roger and Julie Frandsen
Rogge General Contractors Inc.
Supreme Springwater Supporter ($100 - $249)
Agricultural Services Inc
Hornady Manufacturing
Kiwanis Club of Grand Island
Midwest Connect, LLC
Super Saver – Five Points
Walmart South
Wanitschke Family
Wish Nebraska, Inc.
Festival Friend ($25 - $99)
Lee’s Family Restaurant
Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District
Super Saver – Grand Island Second Street

Would you like to support our mission to educate children about the importance of groundwater and environmental stewardship?
The Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, with funds managed by the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation
Tax ID: 47-6032570
Mail Checks: Greater Grand Island Community Foundation
c/o Children’s Groundwater Festival, 1503 W 2nd Street, Grand Island, NE 68801

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Online: You can donate on the Grand Island Community Foundation's website
Donate</a>
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In-Kind: To provide in-kind donations for sack lunches or other Festival needs contact:
Marcia Lee, Festival Coordinator | Office: 308-385-6282</a> | Direct Line: 308-395-7551</a> | Email: lee@cpnrd.org</a>

Adventure Camp About the Environment (ACE)</h2>
ACE CAMP BROCHURE</a>
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</a>
Submit scholarship application to Marcia Lee: lee@cpnrd.org</a> | 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
lee@cpnrd.org</a>
308-395-7551</a>

Nebraska Range Camp</h2>
Range Camp</a> 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</a> for details on the summer camps, scholarships, or range camps.

Jami Harper Scholarship</h2>
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.
With 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 designed to provide opportunities for any Nebraska high school student pursuing a career in water to apply for a one-time $250 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</a>

Summer Camp Scholarship</h2>
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</a>).
ACE SCHOLARSHIP FORM</a>
For more information on how to receive a summer camp scholarship for other camps, email Marcia Lee lee@cpnrd.org</a> or call (308) 385-6282</a>.

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