Water resources are vital to the health and well-being of our society…..even here in Louisiana, where water is often taken for granted. Water is a life sustaining non-renewable resource. As water quality and conservation issues continue to grow it is important that our children learn how they can contribute to its wise use and protection.
For this reason, this effort titled “Make a Splash with Project WET” was funded in part by the Caldwell, Jackson and Winn Parish Police Juries. The festival on beautiful Caney Lake consisted of structured learning stations and exhibits where students actively engaged in hands-on water activities and investigations. Student groups rotated from one activity station to the next where activities included topics such as the hydrologic cycle, ground water, watersheds, soils, water quality and the Sparta Aquifer.
On March 3, 2009 approximately 300 4th grade students and 47 educators from Caldwell, Jackson and Winn parish schools made the trip to Jimmie Davis State Park in Chatham, Louisiana to take part in an effort to raise an awareness of the need for water education and conservation. The objective of this annual event is to highlight the role of water in people’s everyday lives and to teach children of the science and history of water, one of our most essential natural resources.
The students who attended the festival came from schools within the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District. Each teacher and student left the festival with a commemorative bag containing useful educational items including journals for the students to record their experiences and knowledge gained from each of the activities. All educators who attended this festival strongly agree that these Project WET activities expose children to the important subject of resource conservation in a way that both compliments and reinforces traditional classroom learning. That, in itself, is fun and exciting.
There is no question of the vast enjoyment the students receive from this type of activity participation, but most importantly the students gain critical knowledge of water and other natural resources and some basic components of resource conservation and management. With the goal of increasing conservation education and awareness in mind, we educated and trained over 60 high school students from Caldwell, LaSalle, Jackson and Winn parish schools prior to and during this event. Those students were presenters, presenter assistants and volunteers through the entire event.
This annual event would not be possible without the support, commitment and dedication from the generous collaboration of our sponsor, the conservation partnerships, volunteers and individuals in our community.
We would like to thank the Acadia, Bodcau, Boeuf River, Caddo, Calcasieu, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Northeast & Sabine Soil & Water Conservation Districts, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, Trailblazer RC&D, the La. Dept of Environmental Quality, the La. Dept of Agriculture & Forestry, the US Forest Service, AmeriCorps, FFA and 4-H students, teachers, principals and School Boards from Caldwell, Jackson and Winn parishes, and the numerous volunteers.
For this reason, this effort titled “Make a Splash with Project WET” was funded in part by the Caldwell, Jackson and Winn Parish Police Juries. The festival on beautiful Caney Lake consisted of structured learning stations and exhibits where students actively engaged in hands-on water activities and investigations. Student groups rotated from one activity station to the next where activities included topics such as the hydrologic cycle, ground water, watersheds, soils, water quality and the Sparta Aquifer.
On March 3, 2009 approximately 300 4th grade students and 47 educators from Caldwell, Jackson and Winn parish schools made the trip to Jimmie Davis State Park in Chatham, Louisiana to take part in an effort to raise an awareness of the need for water education and conservation. The objective of this annual event is to highlight the role of water in people’s everyday lives and to teach children of the science and history of water, one of our most essential natural resources.
The students who attended the festival came from schools within the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District. Each teacher and student left the festival with a commemorative bag containing useful educational items including journals for the students to record their experiences and knowledge gained from each of the activities. All educators who attended this festival strongly agree that these Project WET activities expose children to the important subject of resource conservation in a way that both compliments and reinforces traditional classroom learning. That, in itself, is fun and exciting.
There is no question of the vast enjoyment the students receive from this type of activity participation, but most importantly the students gain critical knowledge of water and other natural resources and some basic components of resource conservation and management. With the goal of increasing conservation education and awareness in mind, we educated and trained over 60 high school students from Caldwell, LaSalle, Jackson and Winn parish schools prior to and during this event. Those students were presenters, presenter assistants and volunteers through the entire event.
This annual event would not be possible without the support, commitment and dedication from the generous collaboration of our sponsor, the conservation partnerships, volunteers and individuals in our community.
We would like to thank the Acadia, Bodcau, Boeuf River, Caddo, Calcasieu, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Northeast & Sabine Soil & Water Conservation Districts, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, Trailblazer RC&D, the La. Dept of Environmental Quality, the La. Dept of Agriculture & Forestry, the US Forest Service, AmeriCorps, FFA and 4-H students, teachers, principals and School Boards from Caldwell, Jackson and Winn parishes, and the numerous volunteers.
We also thank the sponsors of the event. These sponsors are the Jackson Parish Police Jury, the Winn Parish Police Jury, the Caldwell Parish Police Jury, Caldwell Bank & Trust, Weyerhaeuser Company, Homeland Federal Savings Bank, Jackson Parish Farm Bureau, Bank of Winnfield and Jackson Parish State Bank. We know times are extremely difficult in the current economic climate, yet you have not waivered in your commitments to the conservation effort, words cannot fully express our gratitude; the water festival would not possible without your dedication to conservation. Together, we made a difference.
Please click on the links below to view pictures from this year’s festival.
http://www.photoshopshowcase.com/Go.aspx?AID=213630&AT=1&VID=689008&ABID=658630
And for part two go to:
http://www.photoshopshowcase.com/Go.aspx?AID=214202&AT=1&VID=689108&ABID=658630
The water festival is an annual event that takes place during each school year. The 2009-2010 water festival is expected to take place in October of 2009. If you would like to be a sponsor of this event or other conservation programs, you would like to volunteer or have any questions please contact Vikkie Lafollette at the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District at (318) 628-4438 or dugdswcd@bellsouth.net.
Were you a presenter, volunteer, teacher, student or sponsor of this event? If so please fell free so make comments on this event or any other conservation issues. We would love to hear from you!
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