JDLA has worked hard over the last 7 years to fully incorporate Service Learning, which is a teaching technique that uses academic instruction and hands on projects that meet an authentic community need to help students succeed. One of the ways that we do this is to make use of a thematic curriculum of Environmental Education. As members of KACEE, we felt that hosting a Water Festival would be the next step.

Our program is an alternative high school program serving seven different school districts (6 in Jefferson county and Atchison County Community High School). Our students will be learning the academic skills necessary to facilitate the water festival with staff support and guidance which will offer the educational opportunity to the elementary students we will serve.

We have not yet held a Water Festival so our success is yet to be determined. However, I think that it is unique that the Festival will be primarily facilitated by High School youth. We have had many successes in other arenas which will aid us in undertaking the challenge of the Water Festival. As I write this, we have already had our first RSVP for attendance at our September Festival!

Really, so far it has not been that difficult!! KACEE provides excellent guidance, training and support and the environmental education community is ready and willing to help and support us. The field is ripe for this type of activity and elementary teachers are eager to attend.