Hygienic Laboratory staff joined other water and environmental professionals to engage fifth graders in a fun-filled day of learning at the annual Iowa Children's Water Festival held May 9 on the campus of Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny.

More than 2,100 students from 43 schools took part in hands-on activities related to water quality, conservation, safety and recreation during this year's festival, sponsored by the Des Moines Water Works. In addition to staff from the Hygienic Lab, 40 other presenters included the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Weather Service, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa State University and Trees Forever.

Limnologist Mike Birmingham shows students and a teacher an aquatic insect at the Iowa Children's Water Festival.

Limnologists Mike Birmingham and Kyle Skoff manned the lab's biological monitoring display where students used dissecting microscopes to see small aquatic insects, and examined larger bugs and fish preserved in bottles and vials. Birmingham explained how to evaluate the quality of water by looking at the creatures that live in it and demonstrated how limnologists use equipment to catch bugs and fish in Iowa waterways.

"Whether 'Gross!' or 'Cool,' the display usually prompted a strong response," Birmingham said. "I always enjoy that the kids who often act the most repulsed will go find their friends and urge them to check out the display."

Limnologists Katie Spoelstra and Jim Luzier hosted an "Aquatic Safari" that simulated the process of collecting aquatic insects and fish by using a kiddy pool filled with water, sand, cobblestones and woody debris. Students caught toy insects by using a sieve and forceps, and used a net to gather plastic balls, representing fish.

"The children really enjoy digging in the sand to collect bugs; they insist that they collect them all," Spoelstra said. "We also like to make it a competition to see which team can seine up the most fish. We even get teachers involved."

Students in a presentation by Client Services Manager Sherri Marine built an edible aquifer in clear plastic cups by using cereals, graham crackers and other treats to represent the layers of earth. Once the permeable structure was complete, they poured milked over the top of it to simulate the way that water flows through the earth and accumulates in aquifers beneath the bedrock.

"Students seem to always enjoy this presentation, especially when they get to eat it," Marine said. "It is a great way to teach them about the layers of the earth and how important it is to keep them free of contaminants."

The Hygienic Laboratory has participated in the Water Festival during each of its 17 years. The festival has garnered a number of awards over the years, including the Environmental Excellence Award, the Outstanding Water Resources Educator Award from the Iowa State University Water Resources Research Institute, and the Ding Darling Environmental Excellence Award for Outstanding Environmental Education Program from the Iowa Association of Naturalists Iowa Conservation Education Council.

"The Children's Water Festival is a fantastic opportunity for kids to learn everything and anything about water," Katie added. "I've seen presentations that cover a wide variety of topics including recycling, aquifers, boat safety, weather patterns and river clean up. It's a fun, educational event for the children as well as the presenters."