Museum of Industry to Host WaterFest 2001

Elementary school children throughout Nova Scotia will learn about water conservation thanks to a unique teacher's resource kit developed as a result of WaterFest '98.

WaterFest'98 was a three-day festival aimed at delivering messages supporting water conservation to school groups and the public. The resulting teacher's resource kit was made available to elementary schools in Nova Scotia.

The teacher's manual is now being made available in a French version. Joe VanBuskirk, chair of the Children's Waterfest Society Committee, said the reason for the French kit was to make the festival program accessible to more school children across the province and around the world.

In 1998 Environment Canada and the provincial Department of Environment provided financial assistance to facilitate in the creation and production of the original resource kit. Environment Canada has provided French translation and production of the kit. Both versions of the kit are available on their website at www.ec.gc.ca/water/index.htm .

Mr. VanBuskirk said that the kits have been delivered to all elementary school library facilities in Nova Scotia. It contains water-related educational material, resources and lessons to help interested educators during their curriculum and lesson planning. All information contained in the kit is free of copyright if used for educational purposes.

The kit will be used as a tool for Grade 4, 5 and 6 students as they prepare for the second festival to be held at the Museum of Industry in Stellarton, June 7-8, 2001. The festival will be similar in many respects to the highly successful 1998 festival, which attracted more than 3,500 students and hundreds of adults.

The Waterfest committee, which is made up of local industry representatives, environment and health department officials, volunteers and Museum of Industry staff, has been meeting monthly to lay the groundwork for next year's special event.

Mr. VanBuskirk said that the finance committee has been seeking financial support from government, industry and business for the event, and added support to date has been encouraging. Letters have also been sent to a number of presenters who will be offering hands-on activities and demonstrations to the students who attend.

The grounds of the Museum of Industry will be the site of various displays and water-related activities during the two-day festival. The presenters and their interactive displays will be situated in tents throughout the museum complex.

Waterfest 2001 will be a unique opportunity for local residents of all ages to discover the varied needs for water, the many ways water is used and the growing importance of protecting this valuable resource.