Sun 3/22 @ 12 – 4:30pm
Celebrated worldwide, World Water Day is dedicated to the celebration of our most precious resource, water. Created by the United Nations in 1993, it’s a day to make a difference for the members of the global population who suffer from water related issues and prepare for how we’ll manage water in the future.
Cleveland’s very own nationally awarded Watershed Stewardship Center is hosting their second annual World Water Day event right here in NEO.
Located within the Cleveland Metroparks, at the West Creek Reservation in Parma, the Watershed facility opened in June of 2013. The center is dedicated to scientific research and promoting sustainable actions and green infrastructure to enhance and protect the health of suburban watership.
Come out to learn about the different places across the world and issues these countries may be having with water. Go with the flow and travel across the globe to the five different countries of focus, learning about water’s role throughout the world and in your neighborhood. Travel to Australia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Italy and Turkey. After you visit a country, get a stamp for your visit to that country and have fun filling up your Watershed Global Passport, all while learning about water’s unique role and sustainable development.
“People across the world share similar issues in regard to water,” says Gayle Albers, Manager of the Watershed Stewardship Center. “It’s probably one of our most precious resources and one of our most abused resources.”
She continues, “It’s important to come out to the Watershed Stewardship Center and celebrate the cultural aspects of these countries, but also gain an understanding and develop a better appreciation for the challenges as well. It all boils down to economics and politics, and water is one of our most, if not the most important resource we have globally.”
Demonstrations of water quality, monitoring water and a lot of other fun, interesting educational exercises and activities will be happening throughout the course of the afternoon. A live animal show by the zoo will be going on to explain why and how animals are also affected by water issues.
There will be Japanese cultural dancers, wagon tours of the property, crafts, exhibits and much more to enjoy. Sarah Jameson, the Senior Hydrologist from the National Weather Service, will make an appearance to give a 30-minute talk about weather, forecasting and the impact on the Great Lakes (Weather and Climate: The Rainmakers) beginning at 1PM.
This event is free and open to the public from 12PM – 4:30PM. All ages are welcome. Parking is available on-site. Overflow parking will be available and shuttles will be running (signage will be posted).