WaterFest is Almost Here, and Bigger Than Ever!

School groups celebrate their accomplishments at WaterFest

Join us on Saturday, June 1 for our gala watershed event of the year! Families from around the Twin Cities are invited to a day of lakeside fun at WaterFest 2013.  Again this year, the City of Saint Paul is combining their “National Get Outdoors” celebration with WaterFest, so we have even more games and activities to help you get on, near, or at least within site of the water.  There are actually so many activities that the festivities will stretch from the Lake Phalen pavilion all the way down to the beach house!

Sponsored by the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, the cities of St. Paul, Maplewood, Little Canada, Roseville, Shoreview, Landfall and North St. Paul, Ramsey County, Barr Engineering and other partners, WaterFest is a celebration of our clean lakes and offers an opportunity for outdoors, hands-on learning about the water quality, wildlife, and special ecological features of our beautiful watershed.   

Here are some highlights you can expect to see:

• Start the day with the Farnsworth Marching Band pre-fest performance (10:30 AM) followed by the schools ceremony
• Experience the lake with Voyageur canoe and solar pontoon rides; stand up paddleboard and fishing lessons; sailing demonstrations; canoes and kayaks for checkout with a driver's license or ID and discount on paddleboat and bike rentals
  
• Meet WCCO’s Matt Brickman presenting the station’s state-of-the-art, weather tracking machine (11AM-noon)
• Participate in a fishing contest with prizes sponsored by Joe’s Sporting Goods and Asian Outdoor Heritage
• Learn to Geocache and participate in the Geocache Discovery Hunt
• Enjoy climbing walls, jump castle, archery, art, water games and a Raindrop Mystery Tour
• View student artistic, scientific and service project displays
• Learn about landscaping, shorelines, watersheds and ecosystems from professionals and receive a native plant for your yard
• View wildlife from in and around the lake
• See a street sweeper, snowplow and storm drain stenciling demonstrate how cleaner streets keep lakes cleaner
• Take a guided walk highlighting the lake’s history
• View art by local artists
• Watch the Center for Hmong Arts & Talent Variety Show (1 PM and 3 PM)
• Participate in lakeside yoga before (10 AM) and during WaterFest
• Bring a swimming suit and enjoy swimming and beach activities
• Take a photo with LEAP Frog
• Eat from one (or more!) of several different food trucks.
• All of this and more for FREE (with the exception of the food trucks), so skip those costly indoor parks and get your family over to Lake Phalen!

LEAP Frog and a member of the 3M
Clown Club pose with WaterFest visitors.

Our goal at WaterFest is to help families make the connection between activities in our neighborhoods and the health of local lakes, streams and wetlands, but we plan to have a little fun doing it. Everyone can play a role in protecting our water resources.

Planning to attend WaterFest? Let us know you are coming on our Facebook Event Page.


Call for Volunteers

If you're looking to do more, we're still in need for volunteers.  If you have even a couple hours from that day to give to us, we have an easy online sign up.  Simply go to www.rwmwd.org, click on WaterFest and then 'Volunteer or Exhibit at WaterFest.'  After 'Register to Volunteer,' pull the drop down to the number of people you're representing and click Order Now.  You will get a list of what activities we still need help with and sign up.  You can also call event coordinator Debbie Meister (651.647.6816) for more details.


Here are just a few things that we need your talents and time for:

·  Voyageur canoe assistants (must be 16 or older or with an adult)

·  Canoe instructor (must be 16 or older)

·  Kayak instructor (must be 16 or older)

·  Wetland pool assistant (fishing game geared for young kids)

·  Kid’s fishing lessons assistant (help DNR staff with fishing lessons)

·  Putt Putt golf assistant (miniature golf with info about stormwater runoff pollutants)

·  Recycling & composting assistant (we are a 0-waste event. Eureka Recycling staff coordinates this)

·  WaterFest guide (handout WaterFest brochures)

·  Solar pontoon assistant (sign people up for rides--guide them to the boat)

·  Parking lot assistants (direct people to parking lots and provide info about our free shuttle service)

·  Volunteer refreshment area greeter (keep coffee and hot water filled)

·  Cleanup crew (4-5:30)

Thank you and we hope to see you there, rain or shine!