Hundreds of elementary school students are diving into educational activities about water conservation this week at the ninth annual Chatham-Kent & Lambton Children's Water Festival.
Coordinator Don Hector says 1,800 local elementary students and over 350 volunteers are taking part in the festival, which is being held at the CM Wilson Conservation Area in Chatham-Kent. Hector says about 600 elementary school students and about 100 high school students showed up on the first day of the festival on Tuesday.
9th Annual Chatham-Kent & Lambton Children's Water Festival. Oct. 3, 2017. (Photo by Sarah Cowan Blackburn News Chatham-Kent).
The water festival, which is geared towards Grade 4 and Grade 5 students, educates children about water conservation, protection, and other environmental issues through fun and interactive activities. Leadership opportunities are also provided to over 300 high school students volunteering at the festival, who assist in the presentation of activities.
"We have 42 hands-on activities. It's all an outdoor setting and it's all around water conservation, water attitude, and water science. We have our volunteers that lead the students interacting, learning about, and exploring water in our area," says Hector.
Hector says the activities are designed to show both farm and city perspectives of water.
"We try to gear the activities to what's going on in the Great Lakes, in land waters, and a balance of rural and urban-type activities," explains Hector.
Hector says it's important for students to learn more about water and water on the landscape.
Rosedale Public School student Ryerson Dietrich at the 9th Annual Chatham-Kent & Lambton Children's Water Festival. Photo permission provided by mother. Oct 3,2017. (Photo by Sarah Cowan Blackburn News Chatham-Kent).
"It's where we get our water, it's where we fish, and we use the water for different activities. It all boils down to water and having an appreciation for water," explains Hector.
The Chatham-Kent & Lambton Children's Water Festival has been held annually since 2007. Almost 12,000 elementary students have attended the festival over the past eight years. More information can be found online.
