Water Quality Forum

WaterFest

WaterFest 2025

WaterFest will be making a return to Ijams Nature Center on May 7, 2025! This year’s theme will be “Wild for Water,” where students will learn all about how wildlife uses and relies on water, the water cycle, and what we can do to keep our water clean and healthy. WaterFest is open to Knox County, Lenoir City, and Oak Ridge area K-5 students (public, private, & homeschooled). The event is completely free and the Water Quality Forum will provide all the resources you will need for each activity. If you are a teacher interested in registering your class for this year’s event, fill out the following form:  WaterFest 2025 Registration 

Corresponding Art & Poetry Contest information to come!

Direct any questions to programs@waterqualityforum.org 

Prior WaterFests 

Waterfest returned this year at Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville. The chosen theme was “What a Waterful World.” WaterFest is a one-day event that engages elementary-school students in fun, hands-on activities that teach them about their local water resources and how to protect them. WaterFest is open to Knox County, Lenoir City and Oak Ridge area schools(public, private, homeschool). The event is completely free and the Water Quality Forum will provide all the resources you will need for each activity. The day is split into a morning session(9:00am-11:00am) and an afternoon session(11:30am-1:30pm), you can choose to participate in either session.

This year, more than 400 students from 6 different schools participated in 16 different activity booths. We also had about 30 volunteers help direct parking, lead activities, and setup and take down tables and chairs. 

Thanks to all of all our sponsors, volunteers, and any other person/organization who helped with Waterfest this year.

We cannot wait to see you at WaterFest 2024!

If you would like to register your class for WaterFest next year, or if you would like more information, please email programs@waterqualityforum.org.

Some Popular Activities

  • Water Rockets
  • Rain Gutter Regatta
  • Watercolor Painting

2023 Art and Poetry Competition

In addition to the WaterFest field trip, the Water Quality Forum invites all Knox County, Lenoir City and Oak Ridge area schools to participate in our annual WaterFest Poetry and Art Competition. The theme for this year was: “What a Waterful World. Open to students in grades K-5, the competition gives youth the chance to artistically express a water theme, combining the arts and the sciences. The poem and artwork that best exemplifies the theme is recognized at the Waterfest Ceremony that day. 

Deadline: Thursday, March 23rd at 5:00pm. At this time, the Water Quality Forum is not accepting longer art and poetry submissions. 

Flyer:

Thank you to our 2023 Exhibitors/Sponsors !