The
4-H NREM Keiki Water Fest is an inter-active, participatory, educational
program for fifth graders designed to educate and motivate positive
experiences by emphasizing freshwater education principles within
a fun, interactive environment. Water festivals typically consist
of structured learning stations and exhibits where students actively
engage in hands-on water activities and investigations. Station
topics can include the hydrological cycle, ground water, spring
water, water quality, wetlands, water management water conservation,
properties of waters, soils, living history, and much more. Keiki
Water Fest focuses on developing positive attitudes, management
and respect towards the environment and its’ consequential
outcomes. This is a collaborative effort involving the 4-H youth
staff, the Friends of Waipahu Cultural Garden Park (dba Hawaii Plantation
Village), “Protect the Planet” personnel, Urban Garden
Center Ohana, and the Natural Resources & Environmental Management-NREM
personnel.
The Keiki Water Fest
was held on October 17, 2003, at the Hawaii Plantation Village,
a 50 acre facility that houses traditional, cultural-plantation
villages, natural water resources with Hawaiian methods of growing
taro (lo’i) and a forest of various trees. A river also runs
through the facility.
Outreach
(2003):
438 students from Kaleiopu'u, Waipahu, and Honowai Elementary
Schools
The
Keiki Water Festival has been held for four years. Previous festivals
were held:
2000 - CTAHR Urban Garden Center, Pearl City,
O'ahu
2001 - Palama Settlement,
Honolulu, O'ahu.
2002 - Kaunakakai, Molokai
2002 - Wai'anae, O'ahu
2002 - Waimanalo, O'ahu
Objectives:
Teachers and their
students will gain new knowledge about water issues.
Students will learn about the affects that trees and forests have
upon clean, freshwater.
Students will be make conscientious choices about “how to
use water.”
Teachers and students will receive educational materials to enable
them to understand the ecology of freshwater.
They will complete these activities with positive attitudes.
The fifth grade students will be able to recognize detrimental
environmental issues that will affect water quality.
Students will realize that they can make a difference in the community
and in the State of Hawaii.
Students will continue to teach others about freshwater.
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