News from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

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DEC’S Splash Water Festival Held at Giffen Elementary School

Hands-on Activities Teach Students about Water Resources

ALBANY, NY (09/28/2007; 0953)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) partnered with host Giffen Elementary School in Albany on Friday, September 28 for the 7th Annual "Make A Splash with Project WET" (Water Education for Teachers) Water Festival.

“The Festival is designed to raise awareness of the need for water and watershed education and draw attention to the vital role this important resource plays in our everyday lives and in our ecosystem,” said DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis.

Giffen Acting Principal, Beverly Ivey welcomed the students, parents and guests to the school and thanked DEC for providing fun, hands-on activities that make it easier to learn about the environment. “Students learn best by being actively involved, and events such as the Splash Water Festival provide an excellent opportunity to teach important ecological concepts by actively engaging children in the learning process.”

DEC Assistant Commissioner for Water Resources James Tierney kicked off the event by thanking students for their participation and desire to learn more about natural resources and for taking steps to become good environmental stewards. “It is everyone’s responsibility to keep New York’s water resources clean, and the students at Giffen Elementary School have an important leadership role to play in protecting our environment. They can pass on the knowledge they learned today to their parents, friends, and neighbors.”

The event was organized and staffed by DEC’s Environmental Education Program, with help from several Albany High School students. The festival included activities related to the water cycle, watersheds, point and non point source pollution, and water quality. Students got a first-hand look at macroinvertebrates, animals without backbones that can be seen with the naked eye, and learned about the importance of population diversity to keep an ecosystem healthy. Approximately 100 fourth-and-fifth grade students participated in these activities.

The Make A Splash Festival is sponsored by Project WET, with support from Nestle Waters North America. Project WET is an international, interdisciplinary, water science and education program for formal and non-formal educators of kindergarten through twelfth-grade students. Each year, the festival is held at a different location within New York State. In past years, festivals have been held in New York City, Schenectady, Binghamton, Syracuse and Albany. DEC offers free Project WET workshops for educators who receive a curriculum and activity guide, plus information and materials on the state’s water resources. Visit DEC’s website at www.dec.ny.gov to learn more about Project WET or to locate scheduled workshops.