The Watershed Institute brought to life a free and interactive World Water Day event on March 22 for families and environmental enthusiasts. The celebration was filled with hands-on activities, outdoor experiences, exhibits, and information about glaciers.
The event featured a variety of activities and exhibits from Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, PolyGone Systems, Princeton High Meadows Environmental Institute, and food and refreshments from Nosh. The Watershed Institute had tables to educate attendees and showcase our programs, including work with macroinvertebrates, stormwater management, our River-Friendly program, Fairgrown Farm, and advocacy efforts.
One of our most popular tables was the water tasting station, where attendees had the chance to choose their favorite local water source. Waters from Trenton, Princeton, The Watershed Center, and Rocky Hill were available for tasting. To our surprise, The Watershed Center’s water received the most votes in the blind taste test.
For those who enjoy outdoor activities, we offered various vernal pool tours along our boardwalk, where attendees could observe wildlife, such as eggs from wood frogs, and listen to bird vocalizations. Our education staff also shared insights on the impact of the emerald ash borer on ash trees and what The Watershed Institute is doing to protect these trees.
For younger attendees, we provided a variety of educational games in front of our Center, including “Incredible Journey,” “Downstream Game,” “Green Infrastructure Tour,” and fly-fishing mini-lessons from “Trout Unlimited.”
In addition to celebrating World Water Day, the event marked our Day of Giving, with a goal to raise $20,000 for The Watershed Institute. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we’re excited to announce that we reached our goal! These funds will support our environmental programs and protect New Jersey’s water resources.
This celebration was part of the United Nations’ annual World Water Day, with a special focus this year on glaciers. It aimed to educate our community on the importance of glaciers, clean water, and the urgent need for their conservation.
