Coffee County
SWCD/NRCS Helps Host Annual Groundwater Festival
By Sue Leverett, Education Specialist, Coffee County SWCD, New Brockton,
Alabama
|
Sammy Soil and Ruby Raindrop helped students understand
soil and water conservation. |
The New Brockton Farm Center was the site of the third annual Coffee County
Groundwater Festival.
Over 225 Coffee County fourth graders from Elba, Kinston, New Brockton, and
Zion Chapel Elementary Schools participated with their teachers. They enjoyed a fun-filled
day of hands-on activities and learning about the importance of conserving
groundwater.
Representatives of the Coffee County SWCD, Alabama Cooperative Extension
System (ACES), and the Wiregrass Resource Conservation and Development Council
(RC&D) hosted the event.
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), along with dozens
of Coffee County residents and retired school teachers, volunteered their time to
assist in the preparation of the event and to present demonstrations. Two
volunteers dressed up as mascots of SWCD--Ruby Raindrop and Sammy Soil--and
greeted visitors.
Students participated in an activity using 10 beads that represent the water
cycle, or the hydrologic cycle. The beads are used to show the paths water takes
through its various states – solid, liquid and vapor, as it moves throughout
Earth’s systems – oceans, atmosphere, ground water, rain, streams, etc. They
also used ice cream and soda to make their own edible aquifer that demonstrated
the removable of pollution from our water supply and the accumulation of
groundwater in rock or soil called an aquifer.
The hosts of the event gives a special thanks to all the
volunteers and those who made donations--businesses and individuals. Their
support enabled area children to attend the groundwater festival and to have a
successful day of learning!
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