Water Awareness Festival Is Big Hit With Students, Teachers
Over the course of two days, 315 McDonald County fifth-grade students gathered at the McDonald County Fair Grounds in Anderson to participate in a hands-on Water Awareness Festival focused on the Elk River watershed. The activities focused on environmental awareness and how water quality and quantity affect us personally, locally and globally. Students rotated learning stations which included: Ground-Water Flow Model, Environmental Landscapes, Stream Table, Building Your Own Watershed, Stream Health, Riparian Corridor, Water Cycle, and Water and You.
Jennifer Lutes, an agri-business specialist at University of Missouri McDonald County Extension, organized the festival.
“The kids learned a lot, they were enthusiastic and energetic!” Lutes said. “This annual event is one of our most important,” she added. “It wouldn’t be possible without the support of local businesses and volunteers.”
A wide variety of groups volunteered, including the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Department of Natural Resources Roaring River State Park, Newton-McDonald County Soil & Water Conservation District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Neosho Fish Hatchery, Missouri Stream Team, and Future Farmers of America high school students.
MU Extension staff from 4-H, Nutrition, and Natural Resource Engineering programs also participated in learning station activities, including a new one called “Water and You” conducted by Eden Stewart of MU Extension’s nutrition program. “Human bodies are composed mostly of water by weight,” Stewart explained. “Therefore, clean and plenty of water is essential for human health and nature.”
McDonald County teachers found the event worthwhile, too.
“Love the Enviroscape, one of the kids’ favorites,” indicated one teacher on the anonymously administered teacher survey. “They [the kids] love to see the real-life animals” indicated another. In a response to being asked whether the material presented coincided with other activities teachers are using, all teachers agreed that it did. This is why the Water Festival focuses on fifth grade; “we’re helping teachers reinforce the curriculum they are covering in class,” Lutes said.
Students in attendance were given a quiz at the end of the day, followed by a magic show by the Fishin’ Magicians, a delightful duo who perform their own show on water quality. Thanks to a generous donation by Tyson Foods Inc. to The Nature Conservancy’s Western Ozarks Waters Initiative, the Conservancy was able to bring the Fishing Magicians to this year’s Water Festival.
While a date has not yet been set, Lutes expects to continue the annual Water Festival next year and beyond.
“Kids love it, teachers love it. As long as we continue having volunteers and community support, we are thrilled to offer this event,” she concluded.
“As long as we continue having volunteers and community support, we are thrilled to offer this event.”
Jennifer Lutes University of Missouri McDonald County Extension