Maine Children's Water Festivals

Maine Project WET is a proud sponsor of the Maine Children's Water Festivals which promote hands on learning about water issues. These one-day events bring together over 800 students and their teachers. Water resource professionals from Maine and New England provide presentations and activities about water, wetlands, human health and aquatic life; there are water trivia quiz shows hosted by local radio and television personalities, as well as activities using music and art. This experience is provided at no cost to the participants. In fact, the festival provides funding to help schools pay the cost of transportation. The Festival goals are to teach students about the value of clean water and healthy habitats, and to provide teachers with materials and lessons that they can use for years to come. Also, many activities are aligned with Maine’s Learning Results. Schools are chosen to attend on the basis of their applicationswhat they currently teach about water and how they will use the Festival experience in their curriculum.

Southern Maine Children's Water Festival
The Southern Maine Festival is held each year in May at the University of Southern Maine Gorham Campus. This Festival is open to students from the following counties: York, Cumberland, Oxford, Franklin, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Sagadahoc, and Lincoln.

The 2008 festival will take place at the University of Southern Maine's Portland campus on May 16. Applications are posted on the Maine DEP Web site. If you need additional information, please contact Lynne Richard at the Portland Water District.

Northern Maine Children's Water Festival
The Northern Maine Festival is held at the University of Maine at Orono, in early October in even-numbered years. This Festival is open to students from the following counties: Aroostook, Piscataquis, Penobscot, Somerset, Washington, Hancock, Knox, Northern Kennebec and Waldo.

If you would like to receive information about the 2008 festival, please contact Barbara Welch at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to be added to the mailing list.