Water Festivals

Washington County Water Festival

Since 2006, the Washington County Water Festival has educated over 750 fourth graders in Washington County, Alabama about the watershed function and wastewater treatment.  Students participate in hands-on activities such as Model Watershed, Pollution Filtration, and Edible Aquifer that help them understand the effects of irresponsible human activities.  Activities are led by trained community volunteers and local high school students. After their hands-on activities, students enjoy educational entertainment from the Fishin’ Magicians and receive T-shirts commemorating their experience.  T-shirt design is decided through a contest open to all participants and the winner also receives a gift card to a local business.  All participants leave with a better understanding of hydrological processes and treatment.  Partners in this project include Ciba Specialty Chemicals, who generously chairs the event and provides the site in McIntosh, the Leroy Water Authority, and the Alabama-Tombigbee Resource Conservation and Development blah.     

Baldwin County Water Festival - February 8 & 9, 2010

Each year, ACF partners with the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve to hold the Baldwin County Water Festival in Daphne, Alabama.  Over 6,000 fourth graders in Baldwin County have participated in this event and been educated about watershed function, wastewater treatment, and coastal ecology since 2003.  Activities for the Baldwin County Water Festival include Model Watershed, Pollution Filtration, and Food Web that help students understand the effects of irresponsible human activities.  These activities are led by trained community volunteers who are assisted by local high school students.  After the hands on activities, students are treated to the Fishin’ Magicians magic show reinforcing basic conservation principles in a creative and age-appropriate fashion.  All participants leave with a better understanding of the consequences of individual actions.