Each May, over one hundred Grade 4, 5 and 6 students from area schools attend the Georgian Bay Water Festival at Killbear Provincial Park. Local elementary schools participate in the festival on a rotating basis, with more than 1,500 students attending the water festival since 2007. The event depends the leadership of 35 to 40 Parry Sound High School volunteers.
The Festival brings students together to spend a fun, educational day learning about water ecology and conservation, including local issues such as invasive species and water pollution. The activities help students become more aware of how water is used in their home, classroom and community. Killbear Provincial Park staff lead a biology station where students learn about algae, plants and invertebrates in the food chain and can observe them in an aquarium. Then kids use nets to collect underwater creatures like water beetles, minnows, and dragonfly larvae.
Nearest city or town: Carling Township
Project start date: May 1, 2008
Project focus: Education / Outreach
Project contact: Delaina Arnold