Water Jamboree
The Water Jamboree is an educational fun day for fifth and sixth grade students from schools located in the Tri-Basin Natural Resources District and Lower Republican Resources District (Phelps, Gosper, Harlan, Franklin, Kearney and Furnas Counties in Nebraska) and north central Kansas (including the cities of Phillipsburg, Norton, and Kensington). Students attending will be involved in interdisciplinary water activities relating to aquatic life, recreational uses, water quality, non-point source pollution, irrigation, historical aspects of water, plants and water, and how water quality affects wildlife.
This event is a cooperative effort provided by the Tri-Basin NRD, Lower Republican NRD, Nebraska Extension, Post Rock Extension, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Water Jamboree will be held on two days in late April, with schools attending the day of their choice. Activities are held both indoors and outdoors at Camp Joy and the Harlan County Reservoir.
In 2025 we held the 32st Water Jamboree. Over 400 students and 140 adult volunteers attended the festival. We are looking forward to the 2026 Water Jamboree on April 28-29th.
Registration is in October & November, the deadline to register is December 1st. Contact Lori Swanson at the Phelps County Extension office by email at lori.swanson@unl.edu or by phone at (308) 995-4222.
Activities
Water Rockets: Demonstrate Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion: The action of one body (or force) on another produces an equal but opposite reaction.
Water Warriors: Split session. Learn about what aquatic invasive species are, how they affect Nebraska, and how YOU can help prevent them!
Fishing Fun: Split session. Students will practice their casting skills.
Secrets of Harlan County Dam Revealed: Discover the truth behind the construction of Harlan County Dam.
Bubbleology: Students study the science of bubbles & use bubbles as tools to learn about the recreational value of water.
Pollinators: Learn about honeybees, their importance as pollinators, & what they can teach us about our environment.
Benthic Beauties: Dive into the different types of macroinvertebrates found in Nebraska’s rivers and streams and discuss how they can be used in water quality assessments by scientists.
Incredible Journey: With the roll of a die, students simulate the movement of water within the water cycle.
Water Source Scavenger Hunt: Wednesday only. Let's go on a scavenger hunt to find out where rain goes after it falls from the sky! Become a scientific explorer as we discover a raindrop's journey from beginning to end.
Water Filters: Students design and test hypotheses for cleaning water by making filters.
Stream Table: Students see how flowing water can affect the land by causing erosion and sedimentation.
Evolution of Irrigation: Interactive irrigation methods are presented. The history of irrigation explained with a focus on some key terms and principles.
Hydropower: How can water make electricity? This session will cover how a Hydroelectric Dam works, demonstrate a Hydropower Model and discuss the benefits.
Water Olympics: Investigate two properties of water (adhesion and cohesion) by competing in water games.
Water Jeopardy: An exciting and stimulating game similar to the popular TV show Jeopardy. Students respond to water-related questions.
Casting Creativity: Lure Making 101: Students will learn how to make lures with duct tape, string, and paperclips. Each student will make at least one lure.
Water Carnival Activities:
Water Wheel of Fortune: Participants spin the wheel and answer questions related to water conservation and water management issues.
Hand Washing: Germs! Germs! Germs! Learn why hand washing is so important and the proper techniques.
Nature Tattoos: Temporary Tattoos of natural resources.
Duck, Duck, Trivia: Learn about the benefits wetlands provide in a fun carnival game.
Crumpled Watershed: Create your own watershed and learn about the impacts from erosion and runoff to our rivers.
Splash into Swimming Pool Health & Safety: How safe is the water in your pool? Students will test pH and chlorine with household products.
Coordinators
The following agencies are proud to serve as coordinators of the Water Jamboree. Click on the links to visit their websites.
Lower Republican Natural Resources District, Alma, Nebraska (308) 928-2182
Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District, Holdrege, Nebraska, (308) 995-8601
USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service, Holdrege, Nebraska, (308) 995-6121
K State Research & Extension - Phillips County, Phillipsburg, Kansas, (785) 543-6845
Post-Rock
Tri-Basin Natural Resources District, Holdrege, Nebraska, (308) 995-6688
US Army Corps of Engineers, Republican City, Nebraska, (308) 799-2105
Nebraska Extension - Phelps County, Holdrege, Nebraska, (308) 995-4222
Nebraska Extension - Harlan County, Alma, Nebraska, (308) 928-2119
Donors
The Water Jamboree Committee Members would like to thank the following businesses and individuals for their generous support of the Water Jamboree:
| Ag West Commodities LLC | HOLDREGE | NE | |
| Albert Morgan & Leona Morgan Ch | PHILLIPSBURG | ||
| LandMark Implement Inc | Holdrege | NE | |
| Banner Capital Bank | HARRISBURG | NE | |
| Bruning Bank | HOLDREGE | NE | |
| Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District | Holdrege | NE | |
| Central Valley Irrigation | HOLDREGE | NE | |
| Chas. Sargent Irrigation, Inc. | HOLDREGE | NE | |
| Community Bank | STAMFORD | NE | |
| Darwin & Lorene Cole Charitable Foundation | PHILLIPSBURG | ||
| Duncan, Walker, Schenker & Daake P.C., LLO | FRANKLIN | NE | |
| Farmers National Bank | PHILLIPSBURG | KS | |
| First Bank and Trust Company | MINDEN | NE | |
| First Central Bank | EDISON | NE | |
| First State Bank Loomis | LOOMIS | NE | |
| Fulmer U-Save Pharmacy | HOLDREGE | NE | |
| Guaranty State Bank & Trust Co | SMITH CENTER | KS | |
| Holdrege Irrigation Inc | HOLDREGE | NE | |
| Holdrege Well Service, LLC | HOLDREGE | NE | |
| Lower Republican Natural Resources District | ALMA | NE | |
| Minden Exchange Bank & Trust Co | MINDEN | NE | |
| Norton County | Farm Bureau | Norton | KS |
| Phillips County Farm Bureau Association | PHILLIPSBURG | KS | |
| Titan Machinery | West Fargo | ND | |
| Rusty's Fertilizer | ELM CREEK | NE | |
| The Home | Agency | Elwood | NE |
| Trinity AG Cooperative, LLC | SMITH CENTER | KS | |
| Tripe Motor Co., Inc. | ALMA | NE | |
| Waconda Boats & Motors, LLC | GLEN ELDER | KS | |
| Wagners Irrigation, Inc. | HOLDREGE | NE | |
| Waypoint Bank | CAMBRIDGE | NE | |
Teacher Resources
Click on a link to access water-related resources:
- Groundwater Foundation Home Page
- Resources - Groundwater Foundation
- Take a Water Quiz! - Colorado River Water Conservation District Website
- Edgerton Explorit Center - Aurora, Nebraska
- Rowe Sanctuary and the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center - Gibbon, Nebraska
- Identify Nebraska Birds! - Birds of Nebraska
Water Jamboree Activity Resources
More Educational Resources Here