Environment DEC
From the November 2007 issue
Protection of Water Resources is Focus of 7th Annual "Make A Splash with Project WET" Water Festival
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) partnered with host Giffen Elementary School in Albany on for the 7th Annual "Make a Splash with Project WET" (Water Education for Teachers) Water Festival. DEC Assistant Commissioner for Water Resources, James Tierney, kicked off the event by thanking students for their participation and desire to learn more about natural resources and for taking steps to become good environmental stewards.
Students learn about the many life forms that can be found in water
The event was organized and staffed by DEC's Environmental Education Program with help from several Albany High School students. The festival included activities related to the water cycle, watersheds, point and non-point source pollution and water quality. Students got a first-hand look at macroinvertebrates--animals without backbones that can be seen with the naked eye--and learned about the importance of population diversity to keep an ecosystem healthy. Approximately 100 fourth- and fifth-grade students participated in these activities.
Make a Splash Festival/Project WET
The Make a Splash Festival is sponsored by Project WET, an international, interdisciplinary, water science and education program for formal and non-formal educators of kindergarten through twelfth-grade students. Each year, the festival is held at a different location within New York State. DEC offers free Project WET workshops for educators who receive a curriculum and activity guide, plus information and materials on the state's water resources. Visit: http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1902.html to learn more about Project WET or to locate scheduled workshops.
