There are many lakes and rivers throughout Michigan and Oakland University will educate more than 1,500 fifth graders about water conservation and protection during the Second Annual Clinton River Water Festival on May 22. Oakland Plus, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of our water resources, has donated $15,000 to help support the Water Festival this year.
The Water Festival provides a half- or full-day educational experience for students to learn about the central role water and the Clinton River play within the region, such as pollution prevention, the hydrologic cycle, geosphere as well as daily usage. Each class will attend a series of outdoor and indoor presentations design to be an interactive and hands-on learning experience that compliments the science curricula taught at their schools.
Schools from around Oakland County will send students to participate, including Berkley, Rochester Hills, Pontiac, Rochester, Madison Heights, Hazel Park, Oxford, Royal Oak, Waterford, Auburn Hills, Southfield, Oak Park, Ferndale and Bloomfield Hills.
Oakland Plus, is a nonprofit organization founded by John McCulloch, Oakland County Drain Commissioner and managed by James Ridgway.
The Clinton River Water Festival follows in the footsteps of the Rouge River Water Festival that has taken place for several years at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and the Cranbrook Institute of Science.
The 2007 Water Festival was attended by more than 1,000 fifth graders.
The Clinton River Water Festival is hosted by the Department of Pre-College Programs. For more information, call Reginald McCloud, director of Pre-College Programs, or Jill Osmon, office assistant, at (248) 370-4455.