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FESTIVAL PHILOSOPHY
The Durham Children’s Groundwater Festival promotes
the awareness that water is the basis for all life and how water plays
an essential role in the social and economic development of Ontario.
Communities, like ours, depend on water resources to support the
growth of commerce, industry and transportation. The Festival motivates students to become water stewards in their
classroom and community. By combining hands-on, interactive activities with messages
relevant to their daily lives, students soak-up knowledge on the
properties, uses, connections and importance of water and habitat. With this information, students become aware of the value of
conserving and protecting water. Interaction with industry professionals, water experts and
enthusiastic educators highlight the environmental education programming
of the Festival.
IMPLEMENTATION
In order to carry these messages successfully to the students
a Groundwater Festival Organizing Committee has been established with
the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) being the lead
organization. Currently the committee consists of representatives from
the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Fund, Durham Catholic District
School Board, Durham District School Board, Friends of Second Marsh, Kawartha Pine Ridge District
School Board, Ontario Power Generation - Darlington Nuclear, Region of
Durham - Health Department, Region of Durham - Works Department and
Scouts Canada - Camp Samac.
Festival Structure
Over five days approximately 4,500 grade four students are expected to
visit the festival. Students will be separated into groups of ten
decided beforehand by teachers. Teachers may plan ahead by selecting
activities and exhibits that best suit their students needs. To assist
in this process, teachers will be provided with a Teacher's Event Guide
that contains a location map, as well as a description of the activities
prior to the festival date. A teacher's workshop is conducted before the
festival to answer any questions. In addition to the activity centres,
there are nature trails on-site that will give the students access to a
mixed deciduous forest and its habitat.
Volunteers
A minimum of 120 volunteers/day will be required to host the various
festival centres, assist students and answer their questions. Volunteers
will be sought from event sponsors and senior environmental and
leadership students from local schools. A training session for the
volunteers will be provided along with instructor manuals. Volunteers are
required to be at the Festival from 8:30 am - 2:30 pm. All volunteers
will receive lunch and refreshments as well as a Certificate of
Appreciation and letter of involvement.
Registration & Cost
Grade four classes from the four participating school boards will be
booked on a first come, first served basis. The current cost is
$7.50/student and $2.00/ adult supervisor (bussing included)* and $.50 per person to off set gas surcharges with no charge for teachers.
Location
Camp Samac is located in north Oshawa. This facility provides a wide
variety of venues for all the activity centres as well as opportunities
to study stream and mixed deciduous forest ecosystems with nature
trails.
*Providing bus number requirements are met
For more information please contact: Annette MacDonald at the
Central Lake Ontario Conservation office (905) 579-0411 or ext. 144 or dcgf@cloca.com
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The 1999 Festival was honoured with a visit from the former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Hillary Weston. The Lt. Governor was
escorted on her tour by CLOCA Chair Rick Johnson (left).
Wetland Wonderland.
Drip & Drop.
Aboriginal Voices.
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