This content was published: March 8, 2001. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Media Advisory: Clean Water Festival Pours into PCC's Rock Creek Campus
Photos and story by James Hill
ROCK CREEK CAMPUS – The 8th Annual Children’s Clean Water Festival will bring 1,200 students from 25 Willamette Valley elementary and middle schools to the Rock Creek Campus (17705 N.W. Springville Rd.) at Portland Community College from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, March 23. The entire campus, inside and out, will be utilized for unique educational and entertainment exhibits that will explain the effects and science of water. This event is staged by PCC in partnership with Portland State University’s Cascade Earth Force and the Portland Water Bureau.The festival’s theme this year, "Kids to Kids,"will emphasize awareness and leadership concerning environmental issues. It will feature 30 classroom and lab activities, 25 exhibitors, and 20 student-led presentations. Festival favorites include Water Jeopardy, Salmon in the City, the Big Rig and a Drop in the Bucket. "We’re hoping to provide this as an opportunity for youth to take leadership in learning about problem-solving environmental issues in our local communities,"said Julie Magers, director of Cascade Earth Force. "Water is the backdrop to all of this, with water so abundant in the Northwest. We want to empower young people to understand a process that they can use to get involved in any environmental issue."In addition to PCC and PSU’s Cascade Earth Force, sponsors also include Portland Public Schools, Oregon Water Resources Department, Oregon Public Broadcasting, U.S. Geological Survey, Regional Water Providers Consortium, Bull Run Heritage Foundation and Northwest Service Academy. The festival receives generous funding from Tualatin Basin Endowment Fund, Nature’s Northwest, Unified Sewerage Agency and Metro Parks and Green Spaces.Students and teachers will be coming from nine school districts, including from the Salem, Beaverton, Gresham, Aloha, Hillsboro, Milwaukie, Sherwood, Mt. Angel and Tigard districts. The festival is at full capacity of schools this year, however, those interested in future water festivals, or other information, can contact Magers at 503-725-8288.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »