SDDC Water Festival receives gift from Central Plains Water Development District

The South Dakota Discovery Center has received a $1500 donation from the Central Plains Water Development District of the South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems in support of the SDDC’s Central South Dakota Water Festival and its water education programs.

“We are excited to support the Discovery Center’s efforts,” says Lynette Eckert, Central Plains Water Development District manager. “From them, children are taught about the importance of water as our life source.”

Both the SDDC and SDARWS work to increase awareness and knowledge of watershed ecology and the issues facing our water infrastructure. Water festivals are an important outreach tool that promote education of and interaction with local waterways, like the Missouri River that runs through the state. The Central South Dakota Water Festival, for grades 4 and 5, occurs every fourth Tuesday of September and is led by SDDC Museum Educator Kristine Heinen. This year’s event is on September 23. In addition to their own water festival, the SDDC makes funds available to support similar events across the state for 4-12 graders that have water and education as a central component. More information can be found at sd-discovery.org/watershed_outreach.php.

“Water is an important resource. It is central to our ecosystems and our health,” says Heinen. “Water festivals give children hands-on opportunities to apply the knowledge they learn in school and to also learn more about our water systems. To have support from a key water-use stakeholder is meaningful, and we are grateful to the Central Plains Water Development District.”

The SDDC is dedicated to empowering all Peoples of the Great Plains through hands-on experiences that inspire scientific thinking.  Follow the SDDC on Facebook for day-to-day updates and highlights, and learn more about its mission, programs for all ages, professional development courses, and popular exhibit hall by visiting sd-discovery.org. More information about SDARWS can be found at sdarws.com.

SD Discovery Center’s Kristine Heinen and Rhea Waldman receive a check (Aug. 2021) from Central Plains Water Development District’s Lynette Eckert in support of water festival events.
Photo credit SDDC.