Children's Groundwater Festival

Founded in 1988, the Nebraska Children's Groundwater Festival is an annual one-day event for fourth and fifth grade students of Nebraska. It is a dynamic, energetic day filled with hands-on education. Originally sponsored and organized by The Groundwater Foundation for its first 16 years. In 2004, leadership of the Children’s Groundwater Festival was turned over its host community of Grand Island, Nebraska, where it successfully continues to this day.  

The focus of the Festival is to educate youth through lively entertainment, interactive displays and tangible experiments. Presenters include groundwater and natural resources professionals representing government agencies, environmental organizations, higher education, private business, and interested citizens. The activities are designed to teach children about groundwater in a hands-on, interactive manner. Fun entertainment such as water magicians, folk singers and musicians, puppet shows, storytellers, and raptor shows add to the festive atmosphere.

Popular Festival activities

• Gooey Garbage - children construct a leaky landfill and learn how properly constructed landfills protect groundwater.
• Water Races - children learn about nonpoint source pollution by racing a drop of water through a model.
• Well In A Cup - by building a mini-aquifer in a cup, children learn about aquifers and drinking water wells.
• Taster's Choice - by drinking different types of water, tap to bottled, children learn about drinking water treatment process.
• There's No New Water - students construct a terrarium and learn about the water cycle.

The Children's Groundwater Festival has become an international model that has been adapted and replicated throughout the world. Festivals have been held in nearly 40 U.S. states, in Mexico, Canada, Australia, and India. People everywhere are realizing the importance of educating young people about groundwater and how groundwater connects to all other resources.

How to Plan a Water Festival

To help others learn more about organizing a water festival, the Groundwater Foundation has developed several how-to guides.

• "Making Waves: How to Put on a Water Festival"
• "Making More Waves: Ideas from Across the U.S. and Canada for Organizing a Festival"
• "Making Ripples: How to Organize a School Water Festival"
• "Making Discoveries: Groundwater Activities for the Classroom and Community"
• "Making A Bigger Splash: A Collection of Water Education and Festival Activities"

To order any of these books visit our online catalog or call 1-800-858-4844. Be sure to check out the "custom workshops" also available in the catalog as The Groundwater Foundation offers a variety of workshops to help you get started planning your festival.