DTE Energy Foundation's Community Waterfests! Program
The program offers an opportunity for communities around the state to develop water festivals to educate the public about protecting their local watershed and the Great Lakes. Institute of Science staff help communities to design and organize water festivals with local partners. Funding is also available to cover costs associated with the first year's festival.
Water festival benefits:
- Achieve objectives of community Phase II Storm Water Permit Public Education Plans
- Reach hundreds, even thousands, of students in your community with a message about water protection
- Build partnerships among water resources professionals, the community and educational institutions
- Boost student’s knowledge in Michigan science and social studies benchmarks
- Engage students with the importance of clean water and stewardship
- Promote public awareness of local water resources and issues
Who can host a water festival? Waterfests! partners include:
- Drain and Water Resource Commissioners
- Municipalities
- School Districts
- Colleges
- Botanical Gardens, Museums and Nature Centers
We have a decade of experience in executing water festivals to share with your organization. For more information on how to develop a custom water festival in your community, please contact:
Lisa Appel
Coordinator of Watershed Education
lappel@cranbrook.edu
Ph: (248) 645.3223
Students at the "River Doctor" presentation at the Detroit River Water Festival on May 24, 2012. Gary Crawford, Senior Scientist/Aquatic Biologist with ECT Inc., shows students how to measure water quality along the Detroit Riverfront.
The first Detroit River Water Festival was held on May 24, 2012 and educated nearly 600 Detroit Public Schools 6th grade students about boat safety, invasive species, Great Lakes food web, water quality, pollution prevention and more! The festival was the first new festival under the DTE Energy Foundation Community Waterfests! Program. The 2013 water festival is planned for May 10, 2013. Download 2013 Detroit Waterfest Information Sheet. For more details and the latest updates on the Detroit River Water Festival, click here.
Students learning about Amphibians with Mark Irish, Interpreter with Huron-Clinton Metroparks, at the Detroit River Water Festival.
Planning Documents Available!
Guide to a Great Lakes Water Festival is a resource available from Cranbrook Institute of Science (CIS). The 41-page, full-color guidebook outlines step-by-step instructions on how to host an event, including planning, choosing a location, building partnerships, and finding presenters and volunteers. Limited print copies are available at no charge from CIS, please emailwater@cranbrook.edu to request one.
Download a PDF of our Guide to a Great Lakes Water Festival to learn how to plan an event in your community!
Guide to a Great Lakes Water Festival
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Project Background
Chapter 2: Introduction
Chapter 3: Meeting Community Water Education Goals
Chapter 4: Designing a Water Festival
Chapter 5: Step-by-Step Plans
- Implementation Timeline
- Planning Checklist
- Event Promotion
- Budget
- Sponsors
- Giveaways
- Presentation Schedule
- Water Festival Topics
- Presenters
- Teachers
- Volunteers
- Event Preparation
- Evaluation
- Recognition
Chapter 6: Resources
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