Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Project Wet 2003

Carson Middle School Students Participate in National Water Education Event

The fifth annual Nevada Make a Splash with Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) festival was held September 22, 2004 at Fuji Park in Carson City. More than 400 Carson Middle School students, along with teachers and parent volunteers, participated in this event to learn about our most precious natural resource-WATER!

Make a Splash with Project WET is a national day of water education celebrated each September with support from Nestle Waters of America. This year more than 50,000 students gathered at 97 sites across the

country to raise awareness of the need for water education and to draw attention to the vital role water plays in our daily lives. The Nevada event was coordinated by Mary Kay Riedl (Nevada Division of Environmental Protection [NDEP] Nevada Project WET) and Linda Conlin (River Wranglers), with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The main goal of Nevada's Make a Splash festival is to foster environmental and watershed stewardship. The festival is set up as an outdoor school where students rotate through "classrooms" and participate in lessons pertaining to water and the environment. This year, students completed hands-on activities to learn about water quality, water conservation, ground and surface water systems, erosion, urban runoff and macroinvertebrates. Members of the Washoe Tribe, Walker River and Yerington Paiute Tribes, Chautauquans, and the National Pony Express Association presented storytelling, artistry, and living history to highlight the importance of water resources to Native Americans and early settlers. Professionals from numerous local, state and federal agencies and organizations facilitated the activity stations. Parent volunteers provided nourishment throughout the day.

Our sincere thanks and appreciation is extended to all who participated. We hope that everyone gained a greater understanding of the environment in relation to themselves, their community, and their watershed. Only by understanding, protecting and conserving our water resources can we ensure that future generations thrive and prosper.

A complete list of Activity Stations, Facilitators and Agency Sponsors is provided below.

To learn more about Make a Splash with Project WET visit www.projectwetusa.org

Activity Stations, Facilitators & Agency Sponsors The Long Haul Facilitators: Kathleen Fox-Williams (NDEP), Michelle Stamates (NDEP), Jon Taylor (NDEP), David Friedman (NDEP), Amy Giffin (NDEP)

Hauling water was common practice before technology provided a readily available supply.

In the Long Haul activity, students competed in a water-hauling game and learned about consumptive water use, water availability, and historic and current water supplies in Nevada, the United States and the world.

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