Haliburton-Muskoka Children's Water Festival - Final Report

Haliburton-Muskoka Children's Water Festival - Final Report

Burgess, Sarah

Haliburton-Muskoka Children's Water Festival
Host contact: Ross, Heather

Hill, Stephen
Department: Environmental and Resource Science/Studies

TP-578

2007

U-Links Office and online

Haliburton, Muskoka

Water festival development and evaluation

Development of a partnership between the Haliburton Children's Water Festival and Trent University to provide support to first year students and volunteer coordinators. Evaluates the experience for first year students, Trent and Haliburton organizers, and evaluates the activity centres.

The 2007 Haliburton-Muskoka Children’s Water Festival was successfully received by both the elementary students and Trent volunteers. Going into its fourth year, the festival is organized and operated by many important members. They draw their volunteers from the surrounding community to help run and organize over 35 activity centres for elementary students ranging from grades 3-6. The Haliburton-Muskoka Children’s Water Festival approached Trent University in regards to establishing a partnership. The pilot project entailed 120 Trent University students volunteering at the water festival over a three day period. After volunteering at the festival, students were asked to reflect on their service learning experience through an online survey and one page reflection piece. Results indicate that the students had a worthwhile learning experience, and an opportunity to improve and build upon critical life skills. They also provided important information regarding the activity centre’s they operated, and ideas on how to improve the activity station. The festival organizers and Trent faculty were also given the opportunity to reflect on the Trent University and Haliburton-Muskoka Children’s Water Festival relationship. Both parties were pleased with the available student resource provided to the festival, and would like to see this relationship further improve and grow strong. Both the students and organizers offered valuable recommendations for the Haliburton-Muskoka Children’s Water Festival.

Trent University