On Friday, September 24th, more than 500 local elementary students joined 50,000 others nationwide as they celebrated Make A Splash with Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), the largest water education day in the nation. By participating in Make A Splash, students learn the importance of water as a natural resource and conservation.

The local Make a Splash with Project WET event will be from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Deerwood Amphitheater. The event is supported this year by the Center of Excellence for Field Biology at Austin Peay State University, the Macon County Retired Teachers Association and Nestle Waters Macon County Bottling Facility.

Make a Splash with Project WET is made possible nationwide through support from Nestle Waters North America. Kim Jeffery, President and CEO said, "The health of spring water depends on the health of the ground water system from which it flows. Protecting these water resources through sound science and broad awareness will help make these resources available for generations to come. Project WET and its supporters do a fantastic job building this awareness through the Make a Splash festivals."

This will be the fourth year Macon County students have had the opportunity to participate in Make A Splash, dating back to the start of construction at the Nestl/ Waters facility in Red Boiling Springs. George McCreary, of the Retired Teachers Association, is again coordinating volunteers for the project and local school officials are arranging for student participation. This year, Nestl/ Waters plant employees will join the volunteer efforts as well.

Established in 1984, Project WET is an international water science and education program dedicated to teaching children around the world about water stewardship and conservation. A nonprofit organization, Project WET promotes awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship of our water resources. "After 20 years of working with Project WET, I still love to watch the faces of children as they learn about ground water," said Project WET Executive Director, Dennis Nelson. "Our ground water model demonstration takes the mystery out of ground water and teaches kids how it can be managed and protected."

To learn more about "Make A Splash with Project WET", visit www.projectwetusa.org.