About 400 fourth graders from South Dearborn community schools and Lawrenceburg community schools will participate in a two-day Water Festival.

Sponsored by the Tanners Creek Watershed Steering Committee, the festival is slated for Monday, September 23, and Tuesday, September 24, at Aurora City Park on Park Avenue in Aurora.

Kris Streb, watershed project coordinator, said the event is financed through three Community Foundation grants totaling $6,750.

Streb said the free event is a one-day festival to promote hands on learning about water issues.

It will be presented to Lawrenceburg fourth-graders September 23, and to South Dearborn fourth-graders September 24.

Local water resource professionals from throughout Indiana will provide engaging activities and exhibits on water, wetlands, human health, and aquatic life, said Streb.

Goals are to teach students about the value of clean water and healthy habitats, and to provide teachers with materials and lessons they can use for years to come.

There will be six sessions, each 40 minutes long with a 30-minute lunch break. Students and teachers are asked to bring a lunch. Bottled water and Craisins will be provided, said Streb.

Because this year's festival is being held at Aurora City Park, sessions will be held both indoors and outdoors. Parents are asked to make sure students have a sweater or jacket.

Activities during the festival will include:

Fish Printing - This is the perfect way to learn about fish anatomy without having to do all the dirty work! Before cameras, fishermen often recorded large or unusual specimens by making ink block reproductions of their catch. Now you can develop beautiful, scientifically accurate prints without using real fish. All you need is ink, a roller, and t-shirts or paper. Learn about fish while making a keep-sake! The activity is presented by South Dearborn Students.

Life Below the Waterline - Life Below the Waterline, a traveling freshwater aquarium, has been purchased by ORSANCO's Friends of the Ohio. The aquarium holds 1,800 gallons of water and Ohio River fish. With two 5' X10' viewing areas, this display will demonstrate the diversity of life sustained by the Ohio and the improvements that have been made in water quality.

Becoming a Scientist - In this session, students will learn the basics of water monitoring by High School Students from South Dearborn High. They will not only learn why scientists monitor for certain chemicals but how they monitor, as well! Topics include: Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Turbidity, and Water Temp. Change.

Bucket Brigade - Do you ever wonder how much water we use everyday and if there is something we can do to help lower our water intake? Learn the fun way!! With this hands-on activity, students will learn how much water we use and what we can do to help conserve our water resources. The Bucket Brigade is presented by the Solid Waste Management District.

Sum of the Parts - Students demonstrate how everyone contributes to the pollution of a river as it flows through a watershed and recognize that everyone's "contribution" can be reduced. After this session, they will be able to distinguish between point and nonpoint source pollution and identify Best Management Practices to reduce pollution in our waterbodies. Presented by the Tanners Creek Steering Committee.

Groundwater...The Hidden Resource - You are about to take a fascinating journey underground! The Groundwater Flow "H2O Model" session demonstrates key concepts about the physics and contamination of water as it moves under the earth's surface. The model itself represents a cross section of the earth's surface. Using a series of dyes, students will learn how one pollutant can end up contaminating many different areas including lakes and wells! This session is presented by Purdue Extension.

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