Water Palooza

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Join us for a day-long education fair hosted at an elementary school the Friday before WEFTEC!

At the event, students travel in small groups to various stations to learn about the local water environment, the value of water, initiatives in their community, and how to save water and protect the environment at home.

This event is one way that the SYPC and WEF members educate the WEFTEC Host Community about the value of water.

 

Create Your Own Water Palooza

Plan and execute a fun water-related activity, whether for your child's class, an Earth Day festival, a utility open house and more. This collection of simple hands-on activities will help to educate children about water. 

Get Involved

WEF’s Students and Young Professionals Committee is always looking for new faces to help with Water Palooza. Volunteering at Water Palooza is a fun and rewarding way to share your passion for the water environment with next generation of water stewards!

Here are a few of the many ways you can help make this event a success:

  • Day-of Volunteer (helps with setup, logistics and day-of activities)
  • Water Palooza Committee Member (helps plan and organize the event)
  • Booth Host (volunteer as an organization to host an activity at the event)
  • Become a Sponsor or Donor

If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Water Palooza Chair, Carol Kinzer or WEF Staff, Megan Livak. 

How to Organize Water Paloozas

13 Steps to Successful Educational Outreach Programs

Download the Water Palooza Outline

Impact

Water Palooza has engaged 3,100 elementary and middle school students in activities that promote the value of water since 2013.

2017: Manierre Elementary School, Chicago, IL

  • Participation: 400 students visited 15 different booths
  • Highlights: Walter Burnett, Jr., 27th Ward Alderman, discussed the numerous opportunities for careers in the water industry and how vital they are to the city of Chicago. Members of the MWRD Commission were also in attendance along with WEF’s very own Niles the Crocodile.

2016: Einstein Charter School’s Sherwood Forest Campus, New Orleans, LA

  • Participation: 400 students visited 12 different booths
  • Highlights: Cedric Grant, Executive Director of the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, interacted with students and explained why protecting water is important in New Orleans.

2015: John J. Pershing East Magnet School, Chicago, IL

  • Participation: 800 elementary students visited 18 booths hosted by 15 organizations.
  • Highlights: Representatives from the 4th Ward Alderman’s office stopped by to share information on the area’s water and environment.

2014: Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary & Lusher Charter School, New Orleans, LA

  • Participation: 800 students visited 13 booths hosted by 12 organizations.
  • Highlights: Students learned about jobs in the water sector, dressed up as a water professionals, and had their photo taken at a water careers photo booth.

2013: Haines Elementary School, Chicago, IL

  • Participation: 700 students interacted with 10 different organizations.
  • Highlights: The 2nd grade students kicked off an assembly for the 7th and 8th grade students with a song and dance on the water cycle.

Student Activities

Water Palooza brings together water conscious organizations and companies to educate elementary school students about the value of water through hands-on and demonstrative activities. A list of activities represented at past events is shown below:

  • Demonstration on how water resource recovery facilities work
  • Interactive water cycle song and dance accompanied by making water cycle bracelets
  • EnviroScape® Watershed/Nonpoint Source model (demonstrates nonpoint source runoff, storm sewers, and sanitary sewers)
  • Demonstration on how rain barrels work
  • Rain barrel painting
  • “What not to flush” and toilet toss game
  • Demonstration of how soil filters stormwater runoff
  • Water cycle coloring station
  • Discussion on how pollution impacts animal habitat
  • Water careers photo booth

WaterBlog with Michael Quamme, PE

Michael Quamme, PE blogs about the history of Water Palooza and introduces the new Toolkit that can be used to educate students in grades 1-5 about the value of water and encourage them to become stewards of their water environment. 

 

Read More