Fifth Graders Dig Into Wetlands At May Water Works Festival

One of the best ways to learn about wetlands is to get your hands wet and your shoes a little muddy.

About 1,400 Sarpy and Douglas County fifth graders did just that when studying wetland plants and animals as part of the May Water Works Festival at the Eastern Nebraska 4-H Center and Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, near Gretna.

"The event is designed to increase student knowledge about water resources and promote stewardship of natural resources. They learn about aquatic ecosystems, water policy, ground and surface water resources, safe drinking water, the hydrologic cycle and water recreation," said Sarpy County Cooperative Extension Educator Sharon Skipton.

In learning about wetlands, the fifth graders got to study many aquatic plants and animals up-close...including snakes, frogs and turtles. They also studied tiny aquatic life through a microscope to learn about the natural food chain present in surface water.

Sixty three Sarpy and Douglas County classes participated in the annual event, which is now in its eighth year.

- In the 10 years from 1982 to 1992, wetland loss occurred at a higher rate in the East and Southeast
than it did in the Midwest and West. This was due mainly to development.

After the festival, comments on student evaluations included "We need to take care of the environment and keep it clean and safe," and "After learning about water, we may change how we use water."

One teacher wrote that the festival "Helped our kids think about how important our natural resources are."

The event is planned and sponsored by University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Douglas and Sarpy Counties, Educational Service Unit #3, Metropolitan Utilities District, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Omaha Public Schools, Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service.