Children's Water Festivals

Introduction

Each year, students from across the state have the opportunity to participate in a fun-filled, educational day of water-related activities at a Children's Water Festival. The day is filled with hands-on classroom activities, an exhibit hall, entertainment, and water-focused investigations.

Northern Maine Children's Water Festival-

The Northern Maine festival is scheduled for Tuesday, October 14, 2008.

Thank you to the many schools that sent in applications for this year’s festival!

Congratulations to the following schools whose applications were accepted:

School Name	City/Town
All Saints Catholic School	Bangor
Ashland Middle School	Ashland
China Middle School	S. China
Indian Island School	Old Town
Islesboro Central School	Islesboro
Madison Junior High School	Madison
Mattanawcook Junior High School	Lincoln
Mill Pond School	Hodgdon
Monroe Elementary	Monroe
Old Town Elementary	Old Town
Somerset Valley Middle School	Hartland
Stillwater Montessori	Old Town
Thomaston Grammar School – 5 th Grade	Thomaston
Winslow Elementary School	Winslow

While we are no longer accepting applications, the 2008 letter and application are below for informational purposes. If you have any questions, or are interested in being involved in this year’s festival, contact Ruth Hallsworth at Ruth_Hallsworth@umit.maine.edu or 581-3196.

2008 Informational letter & Application ( pdf file)

Southern Maine Children's Water Festival

The 2008 Festival was a great success, with over 700 students attending. Please join us in May 2009!! If you are a 4th, 5th, or 6th grade teacher in York, Cumberland, Androscoggin, Oxford, Franklin, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, or Kennebec counties, you and your students are eligible to attend. Look for information on the 2009 festival to be posted in October of this year. If you have any questions about applying email Lynne Richard for more information.

What is a festival like and what will students learn about? Check out these resources:

Water Festival brochure with more information on Maine's Children's Water Festivals.
Here is an example of a water festival: Look at the links below to see information on the 2003 Southern Maine Children's Water Festival. It was held on May 23rd at the University of Southern Maine, Gorham Campus. Twelve schools from six southern Maine counties sent their fifth and sixth grade students and teachers. We had over 750 students, and more than 50 teachers and chaperones attending the festival. Pictures and more information on the 2003 festival.
Iinformation and pictures for the 2002 Festival.

What did students do for the day?

Students worked in teams to interpret clues to find out where in a watershed certain water samples came from. Students heard songs about water and sang along with Maine's own Matt Loosigian of Earth Jams. Students attended classroom presentations on many water topics including invasive aquatic species, water conservation, the animals found in vernal pools, and how sediments can affect water quality. Students explored the many activities in the exhibit hall, which provided hands-on learning opportunities such as papermaking, aquatic bird adaptations, a ground water pollution hunt, marine animal touch tank, and how to work in hazardous material protection gear.

Events & Presentations