LUMSDEN ELEMENTARY STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN PROJECT WET

More than four hundred students and teachers from Lumsden Elementary School gathered today to spend a fun-packed day learning about water conservation, protection and resource management. As part of an international effort through Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), simultaneous day-long Make A Splash water festivals, like the one in Lumsden, took place across Canada and in the United States. Project WET is an international water education program for teachers in the Kindergarten to Grade 12 education system.

"This is an exciting time as it is the first event like this in Canada and students at Lumsden Elementary School can expect a fun-filled day learning about water," Minister Responsible for the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority Buckley Belanger said. "Project WET is a valuable teaching resource and activities at this festival will help students learn the importance of protecting and conserving our water. Teaching people about water supports Saskatchewan's Long Term Safe Drinking Water Strategy."

"The Project WET Activity Guide promotes awareness, appreciation and knowledge among students about the important role of water in all aspects of life," Learning Minister Judy Junor said. "The guide's activities encourage students to apply critical thinking and problem solving skills when making decisions about the use of water resources."

"We see tremendous value in Make A Splash water festivals in Canada," National Director for Project WET Canada Russ Boals said. "In addition to promoting Project WET across Canada, the program provides important and sound water education materials."

Make A Splash water festivals are the largest single-day water education event in North America and they are packed with interactive, fun activities that celebrate the important role of water in our lives, teaching children about the science and history of water, one of our most important natural resources.

The Project WET Activity Guide promotes awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship of water resources and includes more than 90 classroom-ready, innovative, hands-on, learning activities for use in the classroom or in outdoor education events and is a recommended resource for use within Saskatchewan's Core Curriculum. First introduced in Saskatchewan in 1996, Project WET is a partnership of the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority, Saskatchewan Learning and the Canadian Water Resources Association.

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For More Information, Contact:

Debbie Firth Saskatchewan Watershed Authority Moose Jaw Phone: (306)631-0462