Delaware environmental educators hope they've made a "splash" with the state's youth.
WDDE takes you to the 'Make A Splash' festival.
WDDE takes you to the 'Make A Splash' festival.
[flashvideo file=http://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/water-fest.flv image="none"/]
Tuesday's summer-like weather provided an appropriate backdrop for DNREC’s annual “Make a Splash” water festival. The event, developed by Delaware's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and Division of Historic and Cultural Affairs, brought 750 fourth graders from around the state to the St. Jones Reserve. There the students from 11 different schools dove into 27 different hands on activities that focused on the importance of water, estuary wildlife, and water resource management.
DNREC environmental scientist Patty Murray would like to see a stronger emphasis on science education and says events like this help spark student interest in those subjects.
"I’ve heard from my speakers that they are asking very good questions, they are answering their questions, and they are doing a great job," said Murray.
Among the activities were one at the Dickinson Plantation that showed students how water was used in the 18th century and a look at early water explorations through “Little Key,” a replica of a shallop, or ship’s boat, like the ones likely on ships such as the Kalmar Nyckel which brought the Swedes to colonize Delaware 375 years ago this year.
St. Jones Reserve’s Education Coordinator Jennifer Holmes says the goal of these activities and others is to bring classroom history and science lesson alive.
"We know that it is correlating with the things that they are learning in school and trying to help reinforce that," said Holmes. She also feels that the festival is making important strides in teaching youth to respect their water and aquatic wildlife. "What they do today will impact the future and [the festival gives] them a sense of conservation and responsibility,” said Holmes.
DNREC launched the Make a Splash festival in 1999 and has taken it to 5 different sites throughout the state.