Northern Maine Children's Water Festival
Children’s Water Festivals promote hands on learning about water issues. The festival is geared towards 4th, 5th and 6th grade students and their teachers. Water resource professionals from Maine and New England provide presentations and activities about water, wetlands, human health and aquatic life. This experience is provided at no cost to participants and resources will be provided to participating schools. The festival goals are to teach students about the value of clean water and healthy habitats, and to provide teachers with materials and lessons that they can use for years to come.
Northern Maine Festival Region: Schools in Aroostook, Washington, Hancock, Piscataquis, Somerset, Penobscot, Waldo, Knox counties and the following northern Kennebec County towns: Clinton, Benton, Waterville, Winslow, Oakland, Albion, Rome, Belgrade, China and Vienna are eligible to apply.
2024 Northern Maine Children’s Water Festival
Date: Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Location: University of Maine
We are currently accepting applications for this year’s festival. Interested teachers can contact Beth Chase at Beth.Chase@maine.gov for a copy of the application packet.
Festival Sponsors
Please contact Ruth Hallsworth at (207) 581-3196 if you are interested in providing sponsorship for the 2018 festival.
Presenters and Exhibitors
Please contact Ruth Hallsworth if you are interested in participating as an exhibitor or presenter at the festival.
Northern Maine Festival Committee
- Sam Annable, Darling Marine Center, UMaine
- Karoline Bass, Stillwater Environmental Engineering
- Marcel Chalou, Maine Department of Environmental Protection
- Beth Chase, Maine Department of Environmental Protection
- Melissa Gallagher, Maine Audubon
- Ruth Hallsworth, Festival Chair, Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, UMaine
- Wade Hanson, RCAP Solutions
- Amy Polyot, Penobscot County Soil & Water Conservation District
- Chris Reily, Maine Department of Environmental Protection
- Kirsten Thompson, Maine Department of Environmental Protection
- Tiffany Wilson, Stillwater Environmental Engineering
Festival Sponsors
2022 Northern Maine Children's Water Festival
Date: Tuesday, October 11
Location: University of Maine campus, Orono
Festival Sponsors
Many thanks to our 2022 sponsors:
Platinum Level
Gold Level
Silver Level
- Northeast Laboratory Services
- James W. Sewall Company
- Stillwater Environmental Engineering
- Huber Engineered Woods
Presenters and Exhibitors
We have a great line up of presenters and exhibitors for this year’s festival. Here are just a few of the activities we have in store for the students:
- Bugs Down Under
- Water Wonders
- Water Drop Watchers Ball Toss
- Maine Sea Grant Exploration Station
- How Much Water Do You Use?
- What’s In The Water?
- Fish Finding Food
- Community Science in Your Watershed
- The Atlantic Salmon Challenge
- Invaders Among Us
- Vernal Pools: Cycles of Life
- How Fast Do Invasive Species Multiply?
- Is This River Healthy?
- Water in Agriculture
- Healthy Water Science
- How Do You Get Your Water? Well Building and Understanding Contamination
- River Plumes in Pans
- Exploring the Water Cycle with the National Weather Service
- Sustainable Fishing
“This was a hands-on day that reinforced what we have already been working on – very valuable.” — Participating teacher
2022 Northern Maine Festival Committee
- Marcel Chalou, Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection
- Beth Chase, Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection
- Maddy Crutchley, Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection, Americorps
- Morgan Haag, Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection, Americorps
- Ruth Hallsworth, Festival Chair, Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, UMaine
- Wade Hanson, RCAP Solutions
- Amy Polyot, Penobscot County Soil & Water Conservation District
- Kathy Rodgers, RCAP Solutions
- Laura Wilson, Cooperative Extension 4H, UMaine
- Tiffany Wilson, Stillwater Engineering
For additional information see: Maine Children’s Water Festival Website
2018 Northern Maine Children's Water Festival
Check out our Festival Facebook page which includes lots of posts for kid-friendly, water-related things to do in Maine!
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
University of Maine
The Northern Maine Children’s Water Festival promotes hands on learning about water issues. This one-day event brings together over 600 students and their teachers. Water resource professionals from Maine and New England provide presentations and activities about water, wetlands, human health and aquatic life; there are water trivia quiz shows hosted by local radio and television personalities, as well as activities using music and art. This experience is provided at no cost to the participants. In fact, the festival provides funding to help schools pay the cost of transportation. The festival goals are to teach students about the value of clean water and healthy habitats, and to provide teachers with materials and lessons that they can use for years to come.
Schools in Aroostook, Washington, Hancock, Piscataquis, Somerset, Penobscot, Waldo, Knox counties and the following northern Kennebec County towns: Clinton, Benton, Waterville, Winslow, Oakland, Albion, Rome, Belgrade, China and Vienna are eligible to apply.
“This was an amazing event. It was obvious that a tremendous amount of time and effort was put into getting so many good speakers and hands-on demonstrations. It was an incredible learning event!” — Participating 5th grade teacher
Selected Schools
The following schools were selected to attend the 2018 festival:
Cape Cod Hill Elementary, New Sharon
Center Drive School, Orrington
Connor Consolidated School, Connor TWP
Dr. Lewis S. Libby School, Milford
Fort Street School, Mars Hill
Jonesport Elementary School, Jonesport
Katahdin Middle/High School, Stacyville
Madison Junior High School, Madison
Mattanawcook Junior High School, Lincoln
Mill Pond School, Hodgdon
Nickerson School, Swanville
Veazie Community School, Veazie
Winslow Elementary School, Winslow
“This was a hands-on day that reinforced what we have already been working on – very valuable.” — Participating teacher
Festival Sponsors
Please contact Ruth Hallsworth at (207) 581-3196 if you are interested in providing sponsorship for the 2018 festival.
Presenters and Exhibitors
Please contact Ruth Hallsworth if you are interested in participating as an exhibitor or presenter at the festival.
Festival Committee
- Denise Blanchette, Maine Department of Environmental Protection
- Beth Chase, Maine Department of Environmental Protection
- Ruth Hallsworth, Festival Chair, Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, UMaine
- Amy Polyot, Penobscot County Soil & Water Conservation District
- Phil Ruck, Stillwater Environmental Engineering
- Sophia Scott, Maine Drinking Water Program
- Marianne Senechal, Maine Department of Environmental Protection
- Laura Wilson, Cooperative Extension 4H, UMaine
For additional information see: Maine Children’s Water Festival Website