News from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

For more information contact: Lori O'Connell, 518-402-8000

Media Advisory

ALBANY, NY (09/27/2007; 1617)(readMedia)-- The 7th Annual "Make a Splash with Project WET" (Water Education for Teachers) Water Festival will join together New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) environmental officials and educators, teachers, students, and Albany School District administrators at Giffen Memorial Elementary School in Albany, on Friday, September 28, beginning at 9:30 AM. The festival is designed to raise awareness of the need for water and watershed education and draw attention to the role this resources plays in everyday life.

Albany School District staff scheduled to attend the event include Eva Joseph, Superintendent; Joseph Dragone, Assistant Superintendent; Jackie Carrese, Instructional Supervisor for Science, K-12; and Ron Lesko, Director of Communications. Beverly Ivey, Acting Principal at Giffen, will welcome the students and guests.

DEC Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Water Resources, James Tierney, will offer remarks at the event and approximately 100 students from grades 4 – 6 will be participating in the day’s activities.

DEC education staff from Five Rivers, Stony Kill, Rogers and the central office will be conducting the activities. Eight students from Albany High School, former DEC campers, have been released from school to help with the program as guides for each of the classes.

The Splash Water Festival will take place in the courtyard outside the school. There will be two sets of four different activity stations where students will learn about the water cycle, watersheds, water quality and macroinvertebrates.

Environmental educators will also be presenting a short skit on keeping waters clean by watching what goes down stormwater drains.