The Upper Loup NRD has in the past and continues to support, through financial funding as well as volunteering time, The Nebraska's Children Groundwater Festival. The festival is an annual one-day event for fourth and fifth grade students of Nebraska. It is a dynamic, energetic day filled with hands-on education. Originally sponsored and organized by The Groundwater Foundation for its first 16 years, the Children’s Groundwater Festival is now self-sustained by its hometown community of Grand Island and coordinated by the Central Platte Natural Resources District.

The focus of the Festival is to educate youth through lively entertainment, interactive displays and tangible experiments. Presenters include groundwater and natural resources professionals representing government agencies, environmental organizations, higher education, high school leadership clubs, private business, and interested citizens.

The activities are designed to teach children about groundwater in a hands-on, interactive manner. Fun entertainment such as water magicians, folksingers and musicians, puppet shows, storytellers, and raptor shows add to the festive atmosphere. The Children's Groundwater Festival has become an international model that has been adapted and replicated throughout the world. Festivals have been held in nearly 40 U.S. states, Mexico City, several provinces in Canada, and New Delhi, India. People everywhere are realizing the importance of educating young people about groundwater and how groundwater connects to all other resources.

To receive additional information about the Children's Groundwater Festival in Nebraska, contact the Groundwater Foundation at info@groundwater.org, call 1-800-858-4844, or visit http://cpnrd.org/groundwater-festival/