26th Annual Children’s Water Festival
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO

Southwestern Water Conservation District is pleased to present the 26th Annual Children’s Water Festival. Each year approximately 800 fifth grade students assemble at Fort Lewis College campus in Durango, Colorado. We were so excited to bring the Water Festival back in 2023 after a three-year hiatus due to Covid-19. We had a fabulous turnout from schools around the SW Basin with a total of 18 schools and close to 800 students! It was a great day for all!

It’s a science conference that focuses on water in our world. The presentations are designed to give students an opportunity to learn about the many different roles water plays in their individual lives, their community, and the world in which they live, and features exhibits and many hands-on presentations highlighting a variety of water-related topics. The goal is to provide a better understanding of water resources, and the value and importance of water.

Hands On

Presentations are structured to the fifth-grade learning level, which allows the students to retain the information in a hands on and educational manner. We work closely with school districts, private schools, and home schools to match the festival experience with their water curriculum.

Water Industry

Students have an opportunity to learn about the variety of water related career opportunities, as well as water rights, water in the human body, water conservation, water pollution, water safety, water species, water treatment, the dependency of water in a variety of industries, and much more.

Higher Education

For many students, the festival gives them their first opportunity to visit a college campus and therefore, introduces the idea of higher education. Students get to walk on the Fort Lewis University campus as well as experience what it is like to sit in a college classroom setting.

The Water Festival is a fun, educational experience for students and teachers. The Water Festival will engage students with topics such as water conservation, water chemistry, the water cycle, local water systems, species habitats, weather, water quality and ecology. Students will have fun with hands on activities while learning about local and global water issues.

You can schedule your arrival & departure based on the availability of your bus schedule, and I will customize the presentations agenda to accommodate your arrival and departure. The longer your class can spend the day and participate the more presentations they will be able to go to. Each presentation is 20 minutes long, and the class/students will rotate to each different presentation that they are scheduled for, based on the arrival time and departure time to and from the festival.

The Water Festival has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at Fort Lewis College in Durango. Southwestern Water Conservation District is covering the cost of the Water Festival; however, the schools will need to provide bus transportation! ** Please make sure to check with your school bus scheduler to make sure of your arrival and departure time. The entire festival schedule for classes attending presentations is very tight and if you arrive late you will miss a presentation and will not be able to make it up. This goes for the Water Wizard as well! We want to make sure everyone has a great experience so timing is important.

Please register no later than March 8, 2024 (the sooner the better)! Also, please note that we need one completed registration form per class, not per school.

Please make sure to provide your cell phone number so we can reach you day of the festival in case of any emergency!