Children's Source Water Festival
Water is essential for the survival of all living things – plants, insects, birds and mammals. Without it nothing lives and nothing grows. Water has played an essential role in Canada’s growth, providing food, drink, transportation and trade routes. It continues to play an important role in our lives today.
Education and media recognition are two of the reasons for the increased awareness about the importance of clean, safe drinking water. The Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority Children’s Source Water Festival is helping to increase the awareness among Ontario’s students. The Conservation Authority believes the value and protection of drinking water resources deserves our utmost attention.
The Children’s Source Water Festival is a biennial event launched as part of the Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority’s (SSMRCA) involvement in Drinking Water Source Protection. The goal of the Festival is to increase awareness of grade three, four and five students and help them to become water stewards in their home, school and community. The premiere Festival was held at Fort Creek Conservation Area in Sault Ste. Marie on September 19, 20 & 21, 2007 and approximately 500 students were in attendance. The festival launched with 24 hands-on, interactive activities with messages relevant to the student’s daily lives. Through the activity centres students discovered the importance of water and how their actions affect the watershed in which they live. All of the activities were designed to complement the Ontario curriculum expectations. Students have fun learning about important water issues.
Festival Structure
Elementary students from grades three, four and five visit the festival. Teachers may plan ahead by selecting activities and exhibits that best suit their students needs. To assist in this process, teachers are provided with a Teacher’s Event Guide that contains a location map, as well as a description of the activities prior to the festival date. A teacher’s workshop is conducted before the festival to answer any questions. In addition to the activity centres, there are nature trails on-site that give the students a chance to experience forest habitat.
Volunteers
A minimum of 40 volunteers per day are required to host the various festival centres, assist students and answer their questions. Volunteers are sought from event sponsors and senior environmental and secondary students from local schools. A training session for the volunteers is provided along with instruction manuals. Volunteers are required to be at the Festival from 8:45 am - 2:30 pm. All volunteers receive a free lunch and refreshments as well as a Certificate of Appreciation.
Registration & Cost
Elementary school classes will be booked on a first come, first served basis. The cost is $4.00/student and $2.00/ adult supervisor (bussing included), with no charge for teachers.
Location
Fort Creek Conservation Area is centrally located on Second Line East near Carmen’s Way in Sault Ste. Marie. This area provides a wonderful backdrop for all the activity centres as well as opportunities to discover a deciduous forest with nature trails.
For more information on the Children’s Source Water Festival, please contact:
