Area youth attend AquaFest at Wayne State College

WAYNE — Fifth-graders from northeast Nebraska enjoyed learning about all aspects of water May 8-9 at the annual AquaFest, when 320 students from 14 schools traveled to the Wayne State College campus for the 2023 event.

Keynote speakers on May 8 were Jacob Howard, meteorologist from KTIV Channel 4 in Sioux City, Iowa, and Brian Smith from the National Weather Service in Valley. The keynote speaker for May 9 was Victor Perez, meteorologist from KCAU Channel 9 in Sioux City.

After the keynote speeches, students were able to attend four of 12 breakout sessions. Information presented included Tracking Ground Water and Its Impact, Water Trivia, Wade a Watershed, Gray Funnels to Green Sponges, Water Rockets, Helpful Hydrogels, Awesome Aquifer, and an Oasis in Space planetarium show. The activities were hands-on and interactive. Youth gained an awareness of the many uses of water, the importance of conservation, and most important, how water impacts our lives.

Youth also participated in a Bubbleology session and viewed an informational water PowerPoint. They were able to meet a variety of professionals from natural resources districts, the Wayne State College Math and Science Department and Nebraska Extension.

Sponsors of the event included Wayne State College, the Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District, the Papio Missouri Natural Resources District 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.