Science to policy
Ways to support
Ways to support
Each year, NGRREC’s Water Festival is flooded with hundreds of fifth grade students and their teachers for a fun-filled day of educational activities and interactive demonstrations. Hosted with the help of local partner organizations, the annual Water Festival offers over 30 hands-on activity stations promoting water resource awareness as well as canoe rides and fishing.
Participating teachers attend a one-day teacher workshop in advance of the festival, where they are introduced to concepts of water resources management and big river ecology. Teachers also receive free materials and resources to incorporate water literacy education into their classroom sessions to help prepare students for the festival.
In addition to the materials and workshops, participating schools are provided with funding for bus transportation and teacher substitutes.
Environmental Education Department
NGRREC/L&C
1 Confluence Way
East Alton, IL 62024
NGRRECEducation@lc.edu
Phone: (618) 468-2790
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If you are interested in exhibiting, please contact NGRREC Education at ngrreceducation@lc.edu.
Sponsors are also needed to cover the cost of attendance for students. Donations of $50 will cover a single student’s attendance, $1000 a whole class’s attendance, and $3000 an entire school’s attendance. You can sponsor a student through the Sponsorship Form.
Water Festival was established in 2002 by former Lewis and Clark Community College faculty member, Marvin Mondy. In celebration of over 20 years of educating students about freshwater through Water Festival, educators at National Great Rivers sat down with Professor Mondy to talk about his vision for Water Festival and what he thinks of Water Festival now.
For the first time in over 20 years, severe weather forced the cancellation of the Water Festival in September of 2024. In response, NGRREC’s Education team launched the first Water Festival on Wheels (WOW), a mobile version of the popular event, bringing hands-on water education directly to schools, parks, and community spaces throughout the area.
Learn more about this unique festival in our Impact Report
2023 was our largest Water Festival yet, with over 900 5th grade students attending and learning about freshwater from over 25 exhibitors.
This year, classes rotated between 37 stations during the five-hour-long event. Students enjoyed soaking up the knowledge and entertainment from nature hikes to canoe rides.
