MEDIA INVITATION TO ATTEND THE: 
27th Annual NEBRASKA CHILDREN'S GROUNDWATER FESTIVAL
The Nebraska Children's Groundwater Festival was the first to be formed nationally and has been replicated in 41 states in the United States and in Mexico, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. To this day, the Nebraska Children's Groundwater Festival remains the model for other states nationwide.

DATE: TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015 
LOCATION: CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE & COLLEGE PARK in GRAND ISLAND, NE
COORDINATORS: MARCIA LEE & KELLY COLE Office: (308) 385-6282
Contact #s for the Day of the Event: Marcia (308) 380-1220, Kelly (308) 380-7421
TIME: 
Classroom activities will be from 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. throughout both campuses and the outside tent. Activities, room numbers and presenters are attached in the Festival Program. 
The Nebraska Children's Groundwater Festival has a great line-up of 45 presenters for the 27th annual event! The line-up includes water educators and experts including three stage show presenters, 31 classroom presenters and 11 presenters in the outside Exhibit Hall.
This event is the flagship of groundwater festivals and invites youth from across Nebraska to participate in the one-day educational event. The Nebraska Children's Groundwater Festival is designed to provide students with hands-on, active learning experiences to gain knowledge about the sources of groundwater, permeation of the soil, the scarcity of groundwater and its vulnerability to pollution. The festival uses stage show performances, classroom activities and display booths to create student interest and awareness of groundwater issues in a proactive way. 
WHERE TO START
Media Packets will be available at the registration areas at both CCC and College Park campuses. The packets will include a program of the event, description of activities taking place and maps of the campuses. Each classroom has a schedule on the outside of their room- feel free to visit any of the classrooms even if they are in session. If you are interested in particular presentations or specific school schedules, feel free to contact Marcia or Kelly for those schedules.
PRESENTATIONS
*STAGE SHOWS: The 3 stage shows are held at the College Park auditorium and the CCC cafeteria. These presentations are entertaining and interactive, with a high level of energy. Up to 300 students attend the sessions.
*CLASSROOMS: These 31 activities are in-depth and hands-on. The 25 minute classroom-style presentations are held at both college campuses with 25-30 students per session.
* EXHIBIT HALL: These 11 activities are held in the blue tent located outside. Students visit each presenter for 5-15 minutes at a time, continuously throughout the day.
SCHOOLS 
There are schools attending from 18 cities across the state (list of schools in Program.)
*834 students are attending from 25 schools, including 46 teachers.
*Farthest traveling school is Chase County of Imperial (3 hours, 25 minutes.)
*Largest school attending is Morton Elementary of Hastings with 120 students
*Smallest school attending is Platte Valley of Grand Island with 3 students.

EVALUATING EVENT
*Each school attending is sent a pre-test that has questions ranging from simple to difficult regarding groundwater and natural resources with a combination of multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and true/false sections. After attending the Festival, instructors are asked to give the post-test to the students and to send them back to CPNRD. Based on pre/post test results, evaluations, and a behavioral impact study, the festival has demonstrated its positive impact on children's awareness, knowledge, and ultimately behavior, in groundwater protection.
MAIN SPONSOR: 
Central Platte NRD is the main sponsor of the event by providing $10,000 in financial support and two staff members that coordinate the event. The Festival Committee fundraises an additional $15,000 to allow students to attend the festival at no cost.
SERVICE & VOLUNTEER AWARDS: 
Service and Volunteer of the Year awards will be announced at the Volunteer Ice Cream Social to be held at CCC in Room 355 at 3:30 p.m. just following the event.
Don Nelson Service Award will be awarded to the Chief Industries Inc of Grand Island. 
Volunteer of the Year Award will be awarded to JoNon Rieke.