This event is slated to take place on Oct. 6, rain or shine!
During the past year we have seen severe flooding in some areas, severe drought in others that caused forest fires, polluted water in towns which caused them to prohibit drinking tap water, and this summer lots of press relating to lack of water in Puerto Rico with people standing on line for hours to get one or two gallons of clean water.
On Friday, Oct. 6, more than 350 students, teachers, presenters, volunteers and honored guests will participate in the 16th annual Make A Splash! Water Festival. The goal is to promote awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship of water resources — something most people take for granted! All fourth grade students from Cinnaminson’s Rush Intermediate School and Riverton School’s fourth graders, will rotate through 16 learning stations and compete in a Water Wizards Challenge, following the keynote address by Dr. Ed Cohen, Environmental Advocate.
Education Consultant, Elaine Mendelow will open the day at 9:15 a.m., speaking about the importance of water conservation and what students can do in their lives as well as support a special program called “Water for South Sudan.” She will read the proclamation presented to the students by Senator Diane Allen. Sixteen groups of students will then rotate through stations from 9:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A new computer game has been added. “Facts and Fictions About H2O” is a game created by Steve Hochman, author, presenter, and electronic game creator. He will be the MC for this game throughout the day!
The Water Festival will be held rain or shine.
“Interactive activities celebrate the important role of water in our lives and teach children about the science of water, one of our most important natural resources,” says Palmyra Cove Nature Park Director John Moore. “And Palmyra Cove Nature Park, the area’s largest outdoor classroom, is the perfect site for this outdoor learning event.”
Station presenters come from many organizations¾Department of Environmental Protection, Mosquito Control, Palmyra Cove Nature Park, Pompeston Creek Watershed Association, NJ American Water, middle and high school environmental science students, and volunteer parents.
Learning stations include:
- Mosquitoes! Mosquitoes!
- H2Olympics
- Seining the Delaware
- Facts and Fictions About H2O
- The Enviroscape
- Groundwater in NJ
- Water Tasting
- Bubbleology
- Wetlands: Nature’s Filter
- Macro Invertebrates
- The Long Haul
- The Eastern Oyster
Interactive activities will show students that water is important for all water users¾energy producers, farmers and ranchers, fish and wildlife, manufacturers, recreationists, rural and urban dwellers. The goal is to promote awareness of, and respect for, water resources, which can encourage a personal, lifelong commitment of responsibility and positive community participation.
For the past two years, something new has been added to the program. All the students are reading a book, Just Add Water, which is the story of Salva Dut’s life, what he endured without clean water, and what he is doing to bring clean water to South Sudan. After the festival, the students and their families will be involved in the “Iron Giraffe Challenge” — giving up other beverages and only drinking water for two weeks! The money raised by not purchasing other beverages, will be given to Salva Dut’s organization to help raise money for more wells. For more information see www.waterforsouthsudan.org.
The national effort is organized by Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), an international, interdisciplinary, water science and education program for educators of K-12 students. Support for this program comes from many sources: The Cinnaminson Education Association, the Cinnaminson Education Foundation, Cinnaminson Clean Communities, NJ American Water, Stout and Caldwell, Wegmans, and many local businesses. The local water festival is being organized by Elaine Mendelow, former educator in the Cinnaminson Schools.
For more information about Project WET, visit www.projectwet.org . Contact Elaine Mendelow (609) 313–0188 or njagcelaine@verizon.net for more information on this year’s water festival. We hope you will attend! Directions attached.
