Dolphin: First day of Water Festival a success

Michael Larson’s 5-year-old daughter, Emma, excitedly yelled, “I catch-ted a shell,” Thursday as she pointed to a shell in her net.

Emma, her 7-year-old sister, Grace, and their 11-year-old cousin, Alex Gilbertson, were scooping tadpoles, shells and other things during the Water Festival Thursday afternoon at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center.

About 130 to 150 people participated in activities on the first day of the inaugural Water Festival at the nature center, according to Executive Director Larry Dolphin. The festival replaced Ecoblitz and had a strong focus on water and how to keep it clean.

One goal was to inform the public about ways to stop pollution, which can have adverse effects on towns downstream and harm animals, especially through things like plastic floating down waterways to the oceans and oil that is dumped down storm drains.

“All in all, I think it went well,” Dolphin said.

For many like Michael and his family, it was the first time canoeing as they worked to get four punches on their activity card to receive a water bottle.

“We’re wrapping it up on our fourth adventure today, going for the bottle,” Larson said. “We plan to participate in more [activities this weekend].”

Alex was excited for his first time in a canoe.

“[It was] my first time [canoeing] which was really fun, and I think I’m gonna do it with my dad,” Alex said. “Im gonna start doing this a lot more, taking walks out here and just looking at the nature.”

Michael was excited to learn more about what the nature center has to offer. He never knew they offered canoe rentals, and he hopes to take advantage of that in the future. He lives in Lansing and was glad to make it to the Water Festival.

“We’ve been trying to take advantage of any opportunity to have fun,” Larson said.

Some younger children had difficulties with some of the activities that involved reading, but the adults were able to help walk them through.

“They still were active and were doing [the activities],” Dolphin said.

Dolphin said about 90 to 100 people attended folk-singer Ann Zimmerman’s Thursday morning concert, and people seemed to enjoy the pond scooping and canoeing, along with the other activities.

Volunteer Mel Miland was glad the weather was not too hot or buggy on the first day of the festival.

“[There’s] no mosquitos, take advantage of the moment,” Miland said with a laugh.

Miland worked at the nature center when she was in college, and now her daughter is interning at the center. But her main reason for volunteering is her passion for clean water.

“I’m a big advocate of clean water,” she said. “It’s important to educate the public.”

She planned to help with water testing during Friday’s service day. She uses the resources at the nature center often, renting canoes and walking the trails. She said she is happy to do anything that will support the center.

“Giving the big picture of how important it is to protect the water, because we use it in so many ways,” Miland said.

Friday was slated to feature different service projects, such as placing “No Dumping” plates on storm drains, and getting a tour of the sewage treatment plant, and Saturday will host activities such as canoeing and kayaking, and pond scooping.

Overall, Dolphin said the first day of the festival went well, and it will definitely return next year.

Schedule

Saturday

Water Festival Finale

•7-10 a.m.: Fishing at East Side Lake. See what’s biting with volunteers from the Austin Ikes. (Preregistration is required.)

•10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.: Sea Life, Minnesota Aquarium, two free programs open for all ages.

•1-4 p.m., Water-themed nature play activities.

•Dunk Tank Fundraiser (free-will donation)

•Kayaking with Scott Hanna

•Crayfish Hunting in the stream

•Water Survival Game. Try to stay clean as you travel through the water cycle.

•2:30 p.m.: New Clean Water Geocaching Challenge

•2:30 p.m.: Staff-led water quality testing of the pond and Dobbins Creek. Check chemical levels, dissolved oxygen, E. coli, and turbidity.