BACKGROUND

 Georgia’s Water Festivals are modeled after the Children’s

 Groundwater Festival sponsored annually since 1989 by the

 Nebraska-based Groundwater Foundation. The

 Groundwater Festival in Nebraska includes an adult track

 for those wishing to replicate its festival and is known as an

 international model program of effective hands-on

 environmental education. The Water Systems Council, the

 only national organization solely focused on individual wells

 and other well-based water systems not regulated under the

 SDWA (Safe Drinking Water Act), was instrumental in

 coordinating this water festival.

Winning Water:  The 2004 ACF Children’s Water Festival marked the inaugural year for the Georgia festivals. The 2004 festival in Columbus was the first in Georgia where students were brought together for an educational experience based on their watershed. Additional Festivals have been held in Dalton, Athens, Macon, Statesboro and Brunswick.

To date, more than 5,000 Georgia children have been educated at the Winning Water Festival. The following are comments about the festival from some of the participants:

• “I had to email you to tell you what a wonderful time we had on Thursday at the Winning Water Festival! It was about the most organized, motivating, and exciting program I've seen. Thank you for all your hard work in putting it together, our kids LOVED it!” Betsy Handley, Teacher, Burghard Elementary (Macon)               
• “On behalf of the Fourth Grade at CFES, we had a wonderful time at the water festival!  The students went on and on about how much they enjoyed it.  What an excellent, enriching educational experience!” Jessica Beaver, Teacher, Colham Ferry Elementary (Watkinsville)           
• “That was the most organized, educational field trip I have ever attended.  Thank you for letting our school attend.  Our students and myself learned so many new ways to take care of our water.  The students really understood the presentations and they were geared towards their learning level.  Once again, thank you so much it was a wonderful, educational day.” Kristin R. Glenn, Teacher, Stowers Elementary (Fort Benning)

FESTIVAL OVERVIEW:

Festival presenters include water/natural resources experts from universities and colleges, government agencies, environmental organizations and private businesses who teach children in a fun and interactive atmosphere. Lessons are taught through many disciplines: math to music, geology to journalism and through entertainment: puppets, magic and storytelling. School classes attend the festival in four-hour blocks, which include classroom sessions, a visit to the Water Jamboree Activity Hall and the Team H20 Pit Stop (a water taste test station) outside displays, performances and games.

GOALS OF THE WATER FESTIVAL:

• Be Fun and Memorable
• Connect Students with Experts
• Bring Education Outside of the Classroom
• Meet a Growing Concern for the Environment
• Forge Lasting Partnerships for Future Festivals
• Connect Upstream and Downstream Water Users
• Make Lasting Water Impact on all those who Attend the Festival

See Photos from the 2008 Festival

List of Some Previous Partners and Sponsors

FUTURE WATER FESTIVALS IN GEORGIA:

At this time there are no future state Festivals scheduled in Georgia. For information on planning your own local event view the Water Festival Planning Guide on the Resources page.