Viewing bags of what waterfowl eat are Matthew Brezinka and Anne Welle from Holy Trinity School in Pierz, Minnesota.  - Photo by Liz Verley

The 13th annual Water Festival event was attended by 376 sixth grade students from area schools in Morrison County.  The Water Festival was held on September 19 and 20 at Camp Ripley.

Ten area schools participated in the 2006 Morrison County Water Festival held at Camp Ripley.  Nearly 400 sixth graders were taught the various disciplines associated with water resources, (i.e., surface water quality, wetland plants and wildlife, fisheries, wetland dynamics and waste water treatment).  

Agencies participating in the event include the Service, the Morrison County Water Plan Task Force, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Morrison County Soil & Water Conservation District and Natural Resource Conservation Service, Great River Great People, Aqua Tech, Camp Ripley and the Science Museum of MN. 

The Science Museum tied together many of the concepts presented at the different learning stations during a 1 hour program following lunch. Three refuge staff were among the thirty plus instructors who participated in the event.  Refuge staff instructed for the two days at the Wildlife, Waterfowl and Herps station.