Lauderdale County Ninth Annual Water Festival

By Penny Everett, Soil Conservation Technician, Florence, AL

The Lauderdale County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) hosted the ninth annual water festival on May 3 in Stephens Hall on the University of North Alabama (UNA) campus. The festival was attended by about 950 fourth grade students from the city and county school systems.

Each student rotated between three hands-on, water-related activities. Water cycle bracelets were made with colored beads representing the perpetual chain of evaporation (and transpiration), condensation, precipitation, and collection. Edible aquifers were built using ice cream, soda, and sprinkles that illustrated how various contaminants pollute the water source. The student used straws to simulate a pump, and slurped up the yummy treat. In the third activity, the students made rainsticks to create the sounds of a thunderstorm!

To end the day, Daphne Moland of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service entertained the group with a wildlife and ecosystem presentation.

The festival activities are designed to help the students retain the environmental principles they have learned. Each child received a water festival t-shirt designed Baylie Grisham, by a fourth grade student from Anderson School.

Assisting the fourth graders with their projects were 30 high school students from the Peers-for-life program, and 22 members of RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program). Teaching the classes were UNA students in the education program. Whether in fourth grade, high school, college, or retirement age, everyone had a wonderful time at the Water Festival and an exciting and interactive day of learning.

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