Southwestern Water Conservation District is pleased to offer the 25th Annual Children’s Water Festival. Each year approximately 800 fifth grade students assemble at Fort Lewis College campus in Durango, Colorado. 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.

It has been three years since we presented the Festival due to Covid-19, and we are so excited to bring it back to Ft. Lewis College and invite our schools and students in the Southwest to participate!

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.

The Water Festival has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 10, 2023 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 31, 2023 (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!