Upon arriving, each class is greeted by a friendly volunteer guide who leads them through a series of rotating presentations and exhibits.  While one class goes on an Incredible Journey, "becoming" individual water droplets who travel through a complex life cycle, another group may take a walk to a nearby wetland where they'll get up close and personal with aquatic insects and plants.  Other students will be gathered around live pelicans, seeing first hand how garbage in the marine environment adversely affects the wildlife that lives there.  More presentations open students' eyes to the fascinating web of life in a mud flat, or give them a chance to giggle as they watch a class mate be transformed into a water bird with lots of silly props that illustrate avian adaptations.

It all adds up to a day rich in tangible learning, enhanced by good clean fun.  But, the day doesn't stand alone.  During the months prior to the festival, the Festival Coordinator visits each classroom and leads an activity using recognized natural resource curricula.  These visits provide students with background information about water quality and provides educators with intriguing new ways to integrate science with other academic subjects.

Photos by Roger Ross Photography