Students participate in AquaFest

WAYNE – Fifth graders from northeast Nebraska enjoyed learning about all aspects of water at the 30th anniversary of AquaFest held May 6 and 7.

Sixteen schools with 375 students, including those from Randolph, traveled to Wayne State College campus for this annual event.

The first day’s keynote speaker was Dave Pearson, senior service hydrologist for the National Weather Service at the Omaha/Valley Weather Forecast Office.

The second day’s keynote speaker was Victor Perez, meteorologist from KCAU, Channel 9 in Sioux City, Iowa.

After the keynote speech, students were able to attend four of 12 breakout sessions.

Information presented included tracking groundwater and its impact; watersheds; water rockets; hydrogels; and the “Oasis in Space” planetairum show.

The activities were hands-on and interactive. Youth gained an awareness of the many uses of water, the importance of conservation, and how water impacts their lives.

Youth also participated in a Bubbleology session. They were able to meet a variety of professionals from Natural Resources Districts (NRDs), Wayne State College Math and Science departments, and Nebraska Extension.

Sponsors of the event included: Wayne State, Lewis and Clark NRD, Lower Elkhorn NRD, Papio Missouri NRD, and Nebraska Extension.

The Cedar County Extension Office coordinated the event with assistance from Madison, Platte, Stanton, Thurston, and Wayne County Extension educators and Dr. Todd Young, Wayne State College Mathematics and Physical Science Department.