SIX NEW CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
for Students to Experience at the
NEBRASKA CHILDREN’S GROUNDWATER FESTIVAL

The Nebraska Children‘s Groundwater Festival promotes groundwater stewardship by providing the students of Nebraska knowledge to help them make personal choices about protecting groundwater quality and conserving groundwater use.

DATE:  TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016    
CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE & COLLEGE PARK in GRAND ISLAND, NE

NEW CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES:
Classroom activities are in-depth and hands-on.  The 25-minute classroom-style presentations are held inside the Central Community College and College Park classrooms and have 25-30 students per session.

  AT CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE:

*Birds on the Platte (Room 456) presented by Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust.  Students will learn about aquifer geology and ground water/surface water connection. They’ll also learn how different wildlife species use and need the Platte River.

*H2O and the 3 R’s (Room 554) presented by Keep Loup Basin Beautiful.  Students will walk upstream to the Ogallala Aquifer and discover which rivers and streams flow where they live.  They’ll also learn about which items to recycle and how long it takes each item to decompose.

*Household Hazardous Waste Jeopardy (Room 457) presented by Grand Island Area Clean Community System.  Students will compete for prize Frisbees by giving their answers on how household hazardous waste affects groundwater and the environment.

*What Plants Need to Grow (Room 458) presented by Nutrients for Life Foundation.  Students will make their own pocket seed germination bag to take home.

   AT COLLEGE PARK:

*Frogs: The Bio-Indicator (Park Room) presented by UNL Extension/ 4-H/Nebraska Outdoor U! Students will learn how frogs represent water quality and they’ll make their own frog call.

*Hydrologic Water Cycle (Room 201/202) presented by City of Grand Island Public Works.  Students will work with models to learn about stormwater runoff and its interaction with groundwater.

SCHEDULES:  
The schedules for the above classrooms are attached and will be taped on the outside of each classroom.  All classroom activities will take place from 8:30 a.m.- 2:40 p.m. throughout both campuses and the outside tent.  Activities, room numbers and presenters are listed in the Festival Program.  Media Packets will be available at the registration areas at both CCC and College Park campuses.  Packets will include a program 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, contact Marcia or Kelly and we will include those in your packet.

SCHOOLS ATTENDING
Axtell Elementary                            Bryan- Lexington                                                            Central City Elementary

Central Valley- Wolbach                  Good Shepard Lutheran- Lincoln                 Jefferson- Grand Island

Lincoln- Grand Island                       McDaid- North Platte                                     Nebraska Christian- Central City

New Hope Christian- Cairo             Overton Elementary                                       Pershing- Lexington

Seedling Mile- Grand Island           St. Marys- Ord                                                  St. Michaels- Albion

St. Paul Elementary                         Wasmer- Grand Island                                    Wood River Elementary

SCHOOL DEMOGRAPHICS: 18 schools are attending from 13 towns/cities across the state.  848 students are attending with 46 teachers.

Largest school attending: Pershing of Lexington, 184 students  Smallest school attending: Good Shepard of Lincoln, 7 students

Traveled farthest:  McDaid of North Platte, 2 hours

EVALUATING OUR 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.

HISTORY:   The festival is intended to supplement groundwater education that students receive through their school curriculum by providing an event where professionals are able to teach nearly 900 students in one day. Over 30,000 students have been educated at the Festival since 1988.  Each school attends five in-depth classroom activities, a stage show, and the Exhibit Hall tent to enjoy groundwater games and booths. This event was the first groundwater festival to be formed.  The Nebraska Children‘s Groundwater Festival has been replicated in 41 states in the U.S.A., Mexico, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom.

SPONSORS: 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.  2016 Sponsors: City of Grand Island Utilities, Fred Otradovsky, Kaufmann-Cummings Foundation, Case IH-a brand of CNH Industrial, CHI Health, Grand Island/Hall Co Visitors Bureau, Lee‘s Family Restaurant, Olsson Associates, Pepsi Bottling Group of Grand Island, Agricultural Services Inc, Ashton State Bank, Aurora Cooperative, Chief Industries Inc, Copycat Printing & Signs, Donna Wanitschke, Eakes Office Plus Inc, Grand Island Abstract Escrow & Title Co, Hy-Vee, Kiwanis A.M. Club, Kiwanis Club of Grand Island, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Robinson Water Well Drilling, Wenzl Construction Co Inc, Zanadu Inc/Arbys, Coca-Cola of Grand Island, Grand Island Surgery Center, Ken Gnadt, Levanders, Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District, Orscheln Farm & Home, Roger and Julie Frandsen, Virginia Good

COORDINATORS:  MARCIA LEE & KELLY COLE  Office: (308) 385-6282
                                Contact #s for May 9 & 10: Marcia (308) 380-1220, Kelly (308) 380-7421

-END-

  Marcia Lee
  Information/Education Specialist

  Central Platte Natural Resources District
  215 Kaufman Ave  Grand Island NE 68803
  Tel: (308) 385-6282  www.cpnrd.org

  Protecting Lives • Protecting Property • Protecting the Future

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