NORFOLK, Nebraska -- The 36th annual Wonderful World of Water Festival was held Sept. 17, 2025, at Gilman Park in Pierce, Nebraska. There were 15 teams of Freshmen and Sophomore High School students from nine schools across northeast Nebraska, who descended upon the park for a day of outdoor, hands-on activities and a chance to compete for championship honors. 

The day began with registration at Gilman Park followed by the teams competing in a track of hands-on activities focusing on water quality and other natural resources related issues. The teams were then quizzed regarding those sessions to accumulate points for the competition. Following the educational sessions, the teams were given one last chance to extend their point totals by participating in the Dripial Pursuit trivia game. Then, while the final totals were being calculated, each team was given the opportunity to participate in the Wonderful World of Water special project.

The special project was Water Rockets, which is a program taught through the Jr. Academy of Sciences. Each school was invited to build water rockets and demonstrate their knowledge of mass, velocity and engineering. The rockets were judged on distance and creativity. Several rockets were launched Wednesday with Wausa High School Team 2 coming in first for Farthest Distance Traveled; Osmond High School Team 3 recognized for Shortest Distance Traveled; and Osmond High School Team 2, with the “Wizard”, taking the Most Creative Design.

Following the presentation of the special projects, the winners of the 2025 Northeast Nebraska Wonderful World of Water were announced. The winner of Track 1 was Osmond High School, consisting of: Payton Stech, Kataryina Miller, Clara Steinkraus, Sunny Geneski, Evynn Kumm and Nevaeh Newton. The winning team from Track 2 was Pierce High School Team 2 consisting of: Cole Snodgrass, Cooper Collins, Konnar Jones, Darcy Watts, Taylor Sonnenfelt and Alyvia Marks. First Place teams were awarded tie-dyed Wonderful World of Water T-shirts to commemorate their victories.

Schools participating in this year’s event included:

• Scribner-Snyder High School
• Pierce High School
• Osmond High School
• Wausa High School
• Allen High School
• Lutheran High Northeast High School
• Emerson-Hubbard High School
• Wynot High School
• Laurel-Concord-Coleridge High School

The Wonderful World of Water program would not be possible without our many natural resources professionals from across the area who volunteer their time each year to share their expertise and work with students who might be interested in a career related to natural resources. They come from a variety of agencies including: The Nebraska Department of Water, Environment and Energy, The Natural Resources Conservation Service; UNL Nebraska Extension; Nebraska Game and Parks; Papio-Missouri River NRD; Upper Elkhorn NRD, Lewis & Clark NRD, Lower Niobrara NRD and, Lower Elkhorn NRD.

The Wonderful World of Water was sponsored this year by:  the Upper Elkhorn NRD; Lower Elkhorn NRD; Lower Niobrara NRD; and, Lewis and Clark NRD.

  
The winning team from Track 2 was Pierce High School Team 2 consisting of: Cole Snodgrass, Cooper Collins, Konnar Jones, Darcy Watts, Taylor Sonnenfelt and Alyvia Marks.