Comments on Draft Action…

Comments on Draft Action Plan – Phosphorus Reduction in Lake Erie.

I attended the Public Engagement Session at the John D Bradley Centre, Chatham on May 18 on behalf of the Chatham Kent & Lambton Childrens Water Festival. The overview and goals of our festival are outlined in more detail below but I just wanted to provide some comments on where we see our festival supporting long term actions of the Lake Erie Phosphorus Reduction Plan. These comments are generally confined to our potential role in the EDUCATION AND AWARENESS.

Some of the discussion that evening was around changing attitudes / behaviours of people as well as some comments that phosphorus reductions may need a longer time period to realize positive impacts. We believe the water festival has a role in educating the younger generation to provide that core information on water science, technology and water attitudes that will hopefully bring about those long term changes required to make a difference on the landscape.
Our annual water festival has delivered our water education program ( with core messages around water ) to a series of Grade 4 / 5 students over the last ten years (12,000 students ) with the hopes that a new generation of positive thoughts and actions around water and associated issues may develop. We believe there is a strong need for a variety of outdoors, hands on educational experiences around a number of environmental themes in our local area. In particular those themes dealing with water and water issues are particularly relevant in this area of the province where a variety of rural and urban issues around use of water, water contamination and aquatic habitat issues are currently very topical. This water festival provides one of those opportunities for a succession of Grade 4/ 5 students to be exposed to those issues over a series of years so that hopefully a new generation of positive thoughts and actions around environmental stewardship may develop. We are bordered by the Great Lakes and interconnecting waters. We are not aware of any other program that provides the type of hands on experientIal learning that we are able to provide to our local students. Teachers have told us this on many an occasions.
We will continue to deliver this festival on an annual basis however we are open to any thoughts on KEY MESSAGES, SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES or OTHER WAYS THAT THE CHATHAM KENT & LAMBTON CHILDRENS WATER FESTIVAL CAN ASSIST IN ACHIEVING IMPROVED WATER QUALITY WITH THE ASSOCIATED BENEFITS FROM AN EDUCATION AND AWARENESS PERSPECTIVE AND ASSIST IN PHOSPHORUS REDUCTION IN THE TARGET AREAS.

OVERVIEW / BACKGROUND OF THE CHATHAM-KENT & LAMBTON CHILDRENS WATER FESTIVAL

The Chatham-Kent & Lambton Children’s Water Festival (CKLCWF) has been delivering a variety of water themed topics to elementary school children in the Lambton-Kent and Lambton County areas since 2007. Website link: www.ckwaterfest.com Over this time period over 12,000 elementary school children at the Grade 4 and 5 level, 3000 high school students, 2400 teachers / parents and 300 to 500 adult volunteers have participated in this annual 3 day event. We are heading into our 9th Annual Festival this coming Fall (Oct. 3 to 5, 2017)
The festival delivers hands on interactive activities covering 5 water themes : Water Science, Water Technology, Water Conservation, Water Protection and Water Attitude. Over 40 hands on activities are offered each year on a 6 acre day use area at the CM Wilson Conservation Area. A two acre pond adjacent to the site provides an aquatic setting to add to the outdoor experience. Over 150 volunteers / day assist in delivering the festival material.
The CKLCWF provides important water messages through a balance of both rural and urban activities and scenarios relevant to the southwestern Ontario landscape. Elementary school children come from both urban and rural backgrounds and the communities served include those touching on Lake Erie , Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River and Lower Lake Huron with the majority of schools located in the Lower Thames River watershed (Chatham-Kent) and the Sydenham River watershed ( northern Chatham-Kent and Lambton County). Three school boards are involved in the festival ( Lambton Kent District School Board, St. Clair Catholic District School Board, the French School Board. A variety of groups are involved each year in assisting in the festival including agency staff, ground and surface water experts, service clubs , and a variety of agricultural related groups ( OMAFRA, 4H OFA) participate. A large number of retired school teachers assist each year. All activities are linked to the Ontario School Curriculum in ways that help students achieve the desired expectations in Science and Technology, Social Studies, Environment, Mathematics and Physical Education. Events and activities are geared to the Grade 4 and 5 level. One of the goals of attending the festival is for students to learn and become catalysts for change by taking the knowledge and newfound respect for water back to their homes, schools and communities.

[Original Comment ID: 209404]